Balmoral Hotel, Edinr
Monday 13 May
My Dear Constance
I had a very prosperous journey, but was especially fortunate in my visit to Fountains Abbey. The morning was cool of the 9th of May, no other tourists were there, and no guide offerred [sic] his services, therefore I wandered at will through the ruins, and about the beautiful grounds – There are such vast remains of the Abbey that one can picture to oneself what it was in the days of its glory – and the lofty tower at the angle stands almost perfect. My friends here received me very Cordially, but poor Piazzi Smyth is absent in Sicily for the sake of his health, which is precarious. I mean to go on to Speddoch on Wednesday. The affairs connected with the sale of the house seem to be all right, and I am glad to say that Mr Gibson my lawyer has found another party ready to borrow the money which I wish to repay, therefore I shall only lose £15 instead of £37..10..0 Mr Gibson is an admirable man of business. I am going to write to Ly Hylton and tell her the name of her flower – The weather is very bad at Edinburgh. A thick mist has hung over the town ever since I came, and no picturesque effects have been visible – Rain falls frequently, especially all Sunday, clearing off only at nightfall, when the imprisoned inhabitants come forth to breathe the air. I only wish for the Confessional room in winter, I prefer the other room from now till October. I propose to return to Lacock on Whit Wednesday the 22d
Your affte
Henry