Lacock Abbey
March 13. –
My dear Henry
Your exertions appear almost incredible. – I scarcely can conceive it possible to listen to a debate of four hours, after travelling in the Coach all day. – And then to have risen early enough the next morning to present your petition, is even more astonishing. – I congratulate you most sincerely on having accomplished it at last, & the inhabitants of Lacock would no doubt feel very grateful if they knew what trouble you had taken about it. – Is Sir A. Agnew <1> at all deranged in intellect, or does he torment you from a real sense of duty? – No doubt there will always be sufficient evil remaining in the world, for those to amend who like such employment, but perhaps Sir A. might better direct his zeal towards some other object. –
I find there is another thing which Kant <2> did; for which you as an Astronomer should esteem him highly, but perhaps it may have escaped your recollection. He was the first who announced the probable existence of the planet Uranus, & Herschel <3> himself after he had discovered it, bore testimony to this fact. –
I am glad you do not quite give me up as a Botanist. – perhaps if you set about teaching me in the right way I may grow very fond of it at last; but you have not yet given me a chance. This must have been a disagreeable day in London I should think even here there has been no Sun, but a kind of damp fog which is inclined to turn into rain. – Though it required some courage to leave the house, Mlle Amélina <4> & I walked have been at to the top of Bowden hill <5> & paid a visit to Mrs Shewring. – We also discoursed with Mr & Mrs Money whom we met driving in an open carriage for the benefit of their daughter’s health. – Many apologies were made for not having called, which I of course received graciously. –
Yr affectionate
Constance
Notes:
1. Sir Andrew Agnew (1793– 1849), Whig politician, and mover of the Sabbath Observance Committee of 1832. [See Doc. No: 02878].
2. Immanuel Kant (1724–1804), philosopher.
3. Sir William Herschel (1738–1822), astronomer, discovered the planet Uranus in 1787.
4. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal ].
5. Bowden Hill, Wiltshire, 1 mi SE of Lacock.