13 Great Stuart Street
Saturday.
My dear Henry
Reyson the Optician has presented a "bill-delivered" account for 1867. - I desired him to fill in the particulars previous to forwarding it to you - and here it is - Shall I pay it for you? - Several Rates and Round Trusts &c have been claimed - I referred them all to Mr Mushet, <1> concluding that he settled all matters relating to the house until fresh instructions. But the two last applicants said they must leave a notice here - they relate to "Assessments" £11 by order of the Ld Provost & Council due on the 12th Novr - Warrant will be taken for recovery if not paid before the 12 Feby /71 - And the Poor rates £6ּ12ּ2 to be paid before the 28th January - The Collection for the latter had scratched his pen through the name of Mushet, and therefore we referred him to Mr Gibson -
Our Servant McCall was married on Thursday - and after 2 days leave of absence has returned; bringing his Wife to Edinburgh - He says he would gladly serve us while we remain in Edinburgh, because he can scarcely expect to hear of a permanent situation until the May Term - We pay him now 25/ּ per week: for six months, it would be at the rate of Butler's yearly Wages. - I told him I thought you would not require him when you had your own footman here - and that he had better keep enquiring for a regular place in the meantime.
But should you think differently it will be requisite to apply for his character to Sir George MacPherson Rutland gate. London. I had your letter yesterday, and desired Hawkins to tell you this & that the account of Goodwin <2> continued better. I felt glad to see by your letter that it suited you equally well to remain a few weeks later at Lacock. Cold has set in again & I am afraid the Abbey Passages will have resumed the lower temperature that you found so unpleasant a short time ago - Charles wrote to us that he intended to leave Weston altogether on Wednesday. Will he not therefore re-join you at Lacock Abbey? I wish very much that you would converse a little on the subject of Goodwin's illness with Wilkins <3> - and lead him to tell you if he had noticed a change in him - & suspected the cause - And how long back? Of course nothing he may say would ever be repeated to Goodwin - You should promise him that. But the state in which Goodwin left home for the journey to Edinburgh that Friday, must have been known to all: especially as John Wilkins assisted him into the Cobourg<4> & drove him to the Station - therefore secresy is dé placé, and you may learn something that will assist us in our future arrangements.
Please read Mr Roach's <5> sermon soon. it will not take you half an hour - and we want to see it ourselves while the interest is fresh.
Your affectionate
Constance.
Notes:
1. Of John Mushet & Son, property agent, Edinburgh.
2. George Goodwin (d. 1875), footman at Lacock Abbey.
3. George Wilkins (b. 1814), gardener at Lacock.
4. The cobourg was a two-wheeled covered carriage, used especially in the country.
5. Edwin Osmond Roach (1828-1876), Irish-born Vicar at St Cyriac's, Lacock, 1870-1876; Asst Provincial Grand Chaplain, Freemason.