London
Feb. 20 – 1834
Dear Constance
I send you an address to the Derby workpeople <1> which I picked up at a bookseller’s shop, and I have sent a copy of it also to your mother. <2>
The groom came unprovided with saddlebags so that he is unable to take anything to you on his return – Therefore I must send by the coach your parcels (including one from Mrs Dowdeswell)<3> or keep them till I come myself. My present idea is to come Saturday week, I should have come this Saturday only several important questions stand for next week upon which I suppose my constituents would not like me to be absent.
I mean to stay a week at Lacock & then return to Town for two weeks & then return to Lacock for Easter <4> – I have not however finally made up my mind what would be the best arrangement – I am accablé <5> Today with all sorts of things to do. – the more so because I was too tired to do anything yesterday –
Your affte
Henry
Je t’envoye mille baisers. <6>
Feby 20–
Notes:
1. In November 1833, silkweavers in Derby went on strike in protest at the dismissal of a co-worker. The strike lasted some five months and was significant in the development of Trades Unions throughout the country, precipitated by the Reform Act.
2. Sarah Leaper Mundy, née Newton (d. 1836), WHFT’s mother in law.
3. Her cousin, Sophy Dowdeswell, née Mundy (1812- 19 May 1847), m. 1833, John Christopher Dowdeswell (1812-1850), and died in childbirth.
4. See Doc. No: 02818.
5. Weighed down.
6. I send you a thousand kisses.