13 Great Stuart Street
Wednesday Nov. 23

My dear Henry

I hope you received this morning, a scrap of a letter which I wrote you before leaving Cheltenh^m also Ela's post card from Carlisle. - We came on this morning by the first train: arriving at one O'Clock - for I felt anxious about Goodwin. - Last night I wrote to D Moir, saying I should wish to see him if possible, on arriving - and he very kindly met me on the Platform: and asked me to step into his carriage - and so to 13. Gt. Stuart Str. Ela following in a Cab with Maria & luggage - Goodwin is better - & slightly more manageable - but still in a great state of excitem^t So that D^r Moir found it necessary to place a steady, trustworthy man to watch over & controul [sic] him. His illness is by no means of a dangerous kind - but morally very serious - In fact D^r Moir tells me it is an attack of delirium tremens. caused, as I believe it always is, by over use of stimulants - I mean, drinking! I am sure you will be as much shocked and grieved, as I am myself on learning this - I could scarcely believe, when D^r Moir spoke the words - but he said, ask the Servants who travelled with him, in what state he arrived, indeed in what state he left home - I have questioned the Cook, who gave me a distressing account, and who must indeed have suffered greatly in bringing him safely through the journey - But I can scarcely forgive Hawkins & the others who allowed him to leave home in such a condition, without conceiving that it was their duty to tell you! I am told that our people at Lacock were obliged to lift him into the Cobourg! ^<1> - That at Bristol he got a fall, which bruised his face & slightly hurt his back. - that the station people said to Carpenter he was not fit to go on like in that state: that therefore they proposed to him to wait for the 7 o clock train, & go through in the night - On the journey he felt ill, & they could not keep the bottle from him. but he was sufficiently clear headed to tell Carpenter, that she must send for D^r Moir, the moment she sh^d reach Edinburgh. She asked the address, & he was able to tell her Castle Street. D^r Moir is out on his daily visits, just now, but I shall see him again & arrange what is to be done. He was suggesting that it may be best to get Goodwin into the Infirmary: but of course I shall leave that to his judgment. - Certainly it would be best for us to get him taken care of out of the house, until the attack has passed off, and also till we have had time to consider what is best to be done - under this unlooked-for trial - It pains me to have been obliged to write you this sad history - The habit must surely be of long standing. - and how is it that M^r Crisp never gave us a hint, if he saw it? Let me hear from you before you come to any hasty decision - and above all don't fancy I want Thomas - I should rather have temporary help, if we find it necessary - but at present the women Servants can do all that Ela & I require. -

Your very affectionate
Constance

We had an excellent journey, and no scarcity of hot water tins to warm us.

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Notes:

1. The cobourg was a two-wheeled covered carriage, used especially in the country.