Heidelberg –
Sunday.
My dear Henry
We rejoice exceedingly in your successful visit to the Bâle post office. – but is it not really too bad to give such a vast amount of trouble in getting possession of our letters, with the additional vexation of delay? – And what serious mischief may not infrequently result from such delay! Matilda <1> gives an excellent report of her little Willie, <2> also of James Ferguson <3> about whom they had been under great anxiety, but the air of Ross Bay <4> seems to giv have given him a new life: and he was to remain there to the end of July, when the Clarks themselves would be going back to Dabton. <5> Fortunately I directed my letter from Heidelberg the other day to Dabton which was all right. Tilly says that her husband had been detained 3 weeks in London, which I fear had interfered as much with her comfort as with his – as it would limit her excursions in search of the picturesque – She had however made several sketches that pleased her – She says she cannot yet quite realize the fact of our being so many miles away – especially as our letters had reached her in 2 days the same time that the post takes from Lacock Abbey – She made out this list of Plants for you – and enclosed it in her letter to Mlle Amélina <6> who begs me to send it on to you.
You will want a report of dear Mamie’s progress since you left, and I am glad to say nothing has occurred to make us fear that we may be on a wrong course of treatment, as she is now able to take nourishment in small quantities without encrease of suffering, which shews that the digestive organs are in a somewhat im better state. Still she must be very careful for some days to come, before I can hope to report anything more decisive of her convalescence –
We have had a stir among the students each of these last days: as they are keeping a kind of fête – their annual reception of ci devant <7> Students who come from distant parts on their invitation – They had fire works by the side of the Neckar <8> – throwing a beautiful red glow over the Castle, & bringing out every portion of the building as clearly as by day. – Then a torch light procession with music &c &c.
Pray write us a full account from Lucerne of your plans for the next few days – & whether or not you have met Charles <9> – We expect you will find letters at the Poste restante at Lucerne, for some of us so pray make diligent enquiry – and forward them to us here – as there is still plenty of time. Did you not want your Great Coat – & telescope which we discovered still in our salon, shortly after you left on Friday? It was a pity Goodwin <10> forgot to remind you of them – but I suppose he gets flurried & trusts to Bayer <11> looking after these things –
Matilda mentions the weather at Ross Bay having completely changed from very hot to cold – the same as with us –
Your affectionate
Constance
Notes:
1. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
2. William ‘Willie’ Gilchrist-Clark-Maxwell (1865–1935), WHFT’s grandson.
3. The gardener at Speddoch.
4. South west of Dumfries, beyond Kirkudbright.
5. Dabton, Dumfriesshire: home of WHFT’s daughter Matilda.
6. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal ].
7. Former.
8. River Neckar is a tributary of the Rhine which runs through Heildelberg.
9. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
10. George Goodwin (d. 1875), footman at Lacock Abbey.
11. M J Bayer, courier.
12. A patent medicine invented by John Collis Browne, a doctor in the British Indian Army, originally as a treatment for cholera. The English pharmacist John Thistlewood Davenport advertised it widely as a treatment not only for cholera, but also such routine maladies as headaches, insomnia and neuralgia. Primarily laudanum (an alcohol-based form of opium) mixed with chloroform and a tincture of marihuana, it certainly sedated the patient and relieved pain, and like most opiates, its constipatory side-effects stopped diarrhea. It was highly addictive and led to many accidental deaths.