Lacock Abbey
Wednesday –
My dear Henry
I am very sorry I was so careless as to forget your request – and I now make all the reparation in my power by sending you 3 powders –
We had great delight yesterday in preparing to receive our Aunts <1> from Bowood <2> and the weather was so beautiful, that I really believe they enjoyed coming as much as I did receiving them – Lady Lansdowne appeared very much better than when I saw her three weeks ago – Lady Mary was suffering from a headache – otherwise I thought her looking tolerably well and not altered in countenance or manner since her sad accident at Coedriglan <3> –
I did not mention our uncertainty to her but advised with Lady Lansdowne & agreed to let it all rest as at present settled till I know something po more positive from you – Lady Elisabeth <4> wrote to me this morning that we had deranged her plans, but she could not decide on anything till after she had seen you. –
Harriot <5> says that 42 Queen Anne St <6> is to be let – She enquired the terms & found them as follows. 50 guineas per month for 2 months certain – making up ten beds – with the possibility of adding one – These terms would not suit us – but Marian <7> thought that a smaller sum would be taken & for a shorter period – considering the advanced stage of the season –
I have planted out all the seedlings that are old enough in the bed you fixed upon & caused the St John’s wort – & Echium to be pruned. Today was very favorable for gardening – the air milder & the ground very moist –
Your affectionate
Constance –
I paid Mr Jennings <8> 12 pounds today for the Pony – as I thought you would like it settled at once – and he told me that was the price. Mr Gale <9> wanted to buy him if you had not –
Notes:
1. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), wife of Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838; WHFT's aunt; and Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776–1855), WHFT’s aunt.
2. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
3. Near Cardiff.
4. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
5. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.
6. London.
7. Her sister, Marian Gilder, née Mundy (1806 – 14 October 1860); m. 6 August 1844 William Troward Gilder (d. 1871), Army Surgeon (ret).
8. Joseph Cave Spicer Jennings (1819-1900), author physician at Lacock who moved to Malmesbury in 1850.
9. John Gale, carpenter at Lacock.