Hôtel de l’Europe Venice
January 8th 1869
Friday
My dear Henry
Ela thanks you, with her love, for your letter from Dabton which she received on New Year’s day – You said in it that you wished the next letter from us directed to the Athenæum – but I feel somewhat doubtful whether this will still find you in London, if your movements should be as rapid as heretofore: though not quite so rapid as Harriot Mundy gives you credit for. – I have lately received a letter from her, wishing us all a ‘Happy New Year’ – in which she says “By this time I suppose Henry will have joined you, as I heard he proposed doing so after passing Christmas with Matilda” – Before you do come, we shall have one or two commissions for Goodwin – Will you tell him, en attendant, will you tell him en that what he sent us by Charles was quite right? And ask Goodwin, please, to put down on a slip of paper, the particulars of what Charles paid him for us – We don’t want the bills but just a scrap that you can to enclose in your next letter, that we may recognise what portion belongs to each one of us – because Charles can only remember the sum total. – Don’t imagine that we are still sorrowing about the weather, for the new Year has brought a decided improvement and some days since Charles came it has been fine enough to go out in the Gondola, which he likes particularly Saturday last (the 2d) was a glorious day; – bright, mild & perfectly calm. Not a breath of air stirred the Canals – We were at the public garden after luncheon: and discovering from the north Eastern side that one or two of the mountain tops were very clear, we proceeded in our Gondola all round by the Arsenal walls on the Murano canal, and had a magnificent view of the whole range capped with snow. It was a most enjoyable thing – So that I have since been encouraged to take to the Gondola again, with more or less success – though the air is rather colder than when we had those ugly fogs – Of rain we had only a moderate strain at Venice – while the other parts of North Italy were deluged – & Charles had miserable weather during the most of his journey – Indeed his weather seemed to have followed him here, & it rained sadly during his first 2 days – I think he quite appreciates Venice, as I expected: and he finds out something or other each time he goes out, that he had not noticed before – He wishes me to tell you that he has answered those 2 letters which you forwarded to him at Venice, & which had been awaiting his arrival some time.
Your charming account of the four grand children at Dabton delighted us. – I wonder whether they are puzzled by the occasional appearances of yourself & of Charles, and the non appearance of all the rest of us – How I should like to see them all again, and dear Tilly especially! It is unfortunate about Miss White: but there was evidently no alternative – and all the trouble of a search will have to begin again – It is a dreadful disappointment. – We are wishing for further accounts about poor Lady Mt Edgcumbe, & no doubt Caroline will write again when she has time, especially as Melle Amélina has answered her last: but it is very difficult for her to get through all she has to do. – And now good bye dear Henry – with all our loves – and I am your affectionate
Constance
[envelope:]
Angleterre
H. F. Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Athenaeum Club
London S.W.