Athenæum <1>
Wedny Sept. 26th
My Dear Constance
Today is rainy, but yesterday was extremely fine and I never saw Kew Gardens looking so well – The Grounds are very extensive, it is quite a long walk to go through them. Half way between the great Palm House and the Pagoda they have built a new Temperate House for semi hardy plants. It is a pretty house & full of plants, but not many of them in flower at present.
The Great Western Railway has been so mismanaged of late years that the shares are now of small value compared with what they used to be, and I have therefore exchanged some of my Great Western shares for shares in Atlantic Telegraph which I am informed is likely to pay a better dividend, if it is well managed.
I have written a line to Mrs Traherne <2> & informed her of Lady Ilchester’s <3> change of day. Perhaps that may make some alteration in her plans, at any rate I thought it was best to let her know. The streets today are wet and foggy & the town looks rather dismal, the change is very great since yesterday. I will try and get a box of [grinuve?] lozenges and either send it by post or bring it with me
Your affte
Henry
[envelope:]
Mrs Talbot
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
[added on recto:]
Sept 25
-26 /66
Notes:
1. Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall, London: WHFT’s club; a gentleman’s club composed primarily of artists and scientists
2. Charlotte Louisa 'Charry' Traherne, née Talbot (1800–1880), WHFT’s cousin
3. Caroline Leonora Fox Strangways, née Murray, Countess of Ilchester (1788–1819)