13. Great Stuart St
Thursday June 20.My dear HenrySince I wrote last I have been getting accounts settled, and I find my money running shorter than I expected – and with the journey out to Dover, instead of the short one first spoken of (where I might have recd a remittance) it will not be prudent to trust only to what Mlle Amelina<1> offered to lend me – Will you therefore send me by return of post a cheque on Coutts for £50–? I will get the Bank of Scotland to cash it, and I shall get it so as to settle last payments on Monday morning – by Goodwin.<2>–
We are going on smoothly with our packing – an arduous part of it being to set things aside properly for the letting of the house – We heard no more of the last Party who came to view.
Please tell Charles<1> that Monie<4>– thanks him for his [ill. del.] letters this morning, & m3ans to write to him on the 1st leisure day – but she has been busy this morning & is just going out with me, for an hour to take leave of the Abbotts <5>– and do a little thing or two. We shall not want the ‘Times’ after next Saturday which we shall get on Sunday morning – therefore will you please to write & stop it? And what do you intend doing about the Athenæum. it should be stopped altogether perhaps? –
Your affectionate
Constance.
Tell Charles that we are not at all disposed to give up any of the sights en route – but adhere to our first plan – Monie being so much stronger we may venture on the whole –
[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wiltshire
Notes:
1. Amélina Petit de Billier, 'Mamie', 'Amandier' (1798- 8 September 1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
2. George Goodwin (d. 1875), footman at Lacock Abbey.
3. Charles Henry Talbot, 'Charlie' or 'Tally' (2 Feb 1842 - 26 Dec 1916), antiquary & WHFT's only son.
4. Rosamond Constance Talbot (16 Mar 1837 - 7 May 1906), died & buried at San Remo, Italy, with a memorial at Lacock; 'Monie', artist & WHFT's 2nd daughter.
5. Francis Abbott, Secretary of General Post Office, Edinburgh, and his wife, Frances Jane, née Parker.