13 Great Stuart St.
Thursday Dec 6.
My dear Henry
I do not know whether these letters are of any immediate importance – but I send them for the chance – Say whether you wish other such (if such should come) to lie on your table till you come to Edinburgh – Will you please give Anna the little note which I will put in this envelope – It is only a message about the Laundress – &c.
Thank you for sending last week’s Athenæum which we received today. – How very harmlessly the great Trades-demonstration passed off on Monday! I read the account in the Times (skipping the Speeches) – and was much interested – The People seemed to have behaved so patiently under their disappointment – for the greater part never reached the Beaufort Grounds–<1> and consequently did not have what they had paid for – but the error lay with those who tried to organize an impossible and ill advised assemblage – I see the Bishop of London’s charge well spoken of. I am going to read it – for I had no time yesterday, what with going to sea Fanny Napier married at St Johns – and afterwards walking in the sloppy Streets, and getting caught in a violent storm of wind & rain – then going in the Evening to a dance, given by the Napiers’ relation Miss Rgibey, [sic] in honor of the marriage. – Nobody appears to have cried at on the occasion, and the Bride herself was not only composed, – but happy – for she was observed to laugh at the déjeuner. – When are you coming? – We think you have had as much of solitude as can possibly be good for you at one time – I have not heard anything of Sir David & Lady Brewster <2> – but suppose he came by himself for the opening meeting of the Royal Society – I send you the Courant which gives a notice of his Address – which was read by Dr Lyon Playfair, <3> as the weather was such as to prevent Sir David himself attending the meeting. – Mr. Primrose called on me today – and I am glad to say he gives a more hopeful acct of Mrs Primrose <4> – inasmuch as the Climate of Cannes agrees – and she is able to take Cod liver oil, which she couldn’t do before she went away –
We expect Mlle Amélina <5> this Evening, if the weather has not kept her from Starting to day – it has been deplorably wet since 3 o’clock –
Your affectionate
Constance
6 o’clock – Mlle A. just arrived with a head ache – but she has had a good journey – notwithstanding the miserable weather.
Notes:
1. The grounds of Beaufort House, Chiswick, London. On 3 December 1866, Reform League supporters marched from Whitehall to hold a meeting at Beaufort House Grounds.
2. Sir David Brewster (1781-1868), Scottish scientist & journalist.
3. Dr Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair (1818-1898), chemist.
4. Frederica Sophia Primrose, 5th daughter of Thomas, 1st Viscount Anson, married 1838. She died 11 October 1867, leaving six sons and 3 daughters.
5. Amélina Petit de Billier, 'Mamie', 'Amandier' (1798- 8 September 1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].