Lacock Tuesday
Aug. 10. 1869
My Dear Constance
I enclose a letter wch has Come for you from Vevey – a small box also arrived today for you from the same place, with ‘value 100 francs’ written on it. The carriage of it from Switzerland was 6 shillings, which I paid.
I hope you will have fine weather at Fontainebleau. Your plans as described in your last letter will do very well. I will come up to Town to meet you, and perhaps I shall come 2 or 3 days Earlier, to visit the British Museum and do a few other things – I will look in Bradshaw & see what train you can come by from Folkestone – If I write tomorrow of course my letter will be forwarded to Fontainebleau. Very cool pleasant weather almost every day since & returned here on 39th July. The Catalpas are flowering beautifully. Those here are young trees & will get finer every year. I think the journey from Paris to Folkestone is too long for one day –
I think you had better sleep at Boulogne [hotel des Bains] –
At any rate, repose yourself for some hours at Boulogne. – Among other reasons is the following. You go on board the Steamer ½ an hour, or an hour before the crowd of passengers arrives from Paris – You therefore have the first choice of a birth and you choose one and make yourself all comfortable – But what I am particularly anxious about is that you should not remain on deck if there is any wind, or if the weather is anything but a calm warm day. For the boat goes 17 miles an hour through the air which added to the velocity of the wind if contrary, makes it often bitterly cold, and it often rains moreover – Last time I managed beautifully – I staid below & was perfectly happy. There was only 1 other person. All the rest went on deck, & were many of them very ill. Goodwin caught a severe hoarseness which has hardly left him yet – So did I, 3 years ago & it lasted a month and more – Entirely owing to the high wind on deck.
I daresay you will have the ladies cabin all to yourself. So be persuaded, and do not rashly remain on deck! The passage is only 1 hour & 3 quarters. The boats are fine & powerful superior to the Calais boats – But the main advantage of Boulogne is the late hour of the starting.
Your affte
Henry