Lacock Abbey
Tuesday –
My dear Henry
I have found in Lady Elisabeth’s <1> Universal Receipt book several ways of making Size for our purpose. – at least I hope some of them may answer. I have prepared some by boiling shreds of parchment in water – it is a stiff Jelly when cold – Isinglass <2> size in the same way – gum water & sugars – white of egg whipped up & allowed to stand half a day to clarify – All these I have just been trying – but without the desired success – Either I varnished over them before they were thoroughly dry – or else I used them too weak – but I must try again – Experiments don’t do when hastily executed & various circumstances have hindered my attending to them properly – but now I am en train <3> I will go on till I succeed. I am afraid we shall not be able to keep Lady Mary <4> more than a few days with us – She threatened to go on Thursday, because the tide suited & she said she had penny clubs of her own & Lady Charlotte’s <5> to attend to. – But I believe she has yielded to Lady Elisabeth’s remonstrances. – Lady E. (as usual during Lady Mary’s visits) has been unwell & kept her room the last two days – She is much better & more nervous than seriously indisposed – but I think it must have arisen from catching cold in the north east winds – She certainly does expose herself too much to their influence & is tempted to do so by really enjoying their freshness – Mr Moore <6> had an attack of the same kind & was attended by Mr Kenrick <7> – Ela <8> has been more poorly than usual, but brisker again today. – Aunt Mary <9> has given me a little advice for her – It is charmingly bright pleasant weather & I don’t quite understand why children & others should appear more ailing than ordinary. I wonder how you are getting on – are you too busy to write to us? – Lord Mount Edgcumbe <10> only slept here one night (Sunday) – as he was in hurry to begin the baths – perhaps he may come over again in one of the intervals – for he must cease the baths after a few days –
yr affectionate
Constance –
Notes:
1. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
2. A form of gelatin made from the internal membranes of the fish bladder.
3. 'now I've got going'
4. Mary Thereza Talbot (1795–1861), WHFT’s cousin.
5. Charlotte Louisa 'Charry' Traherne, née Talbot (1800–1880), WHFT’s cousin.
6. Thomas Moore (1780–1852), Irish poet.
7. Dr George Cranmer Kenrick, surgeon living at The Grove, Melksham.
8. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
9. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776–1855), WHFT’s aunt.
10. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.