Bath. <1>
Thursday
March 26th/74
My dear Henry
I had not myself looked at yesterday’s Newspaper nor had those who remained at home read the obituary in the Times <2> – It was your letter therefore which gave us the intelligence of Mrs Menteath’s <3> death, an event which has been for some time expected. Their Son was here a few weeks back, and he told us that he had not been allowed to see his Mother, so apprehensive were they that the slightest emotion might prove fatal – for she suffered from an affection of the heart – Mr Menteath rarely left her, as she liked to be him to read to her – and I fancy his health might have failed, had the illness been long protracted. Rd & Mamie <4> are gone to a matinée in Sydney Place, where I think they may learn some particulars – Rd thanks you for those bills which you sent her yesterday – I am rather overtired by my achievements of yesterday – but I dare say I shall not feel the fatigue after another day and I am not going to do it again – for some while! – The weather was certainly very pleasant – and it seems almost the same today – I called at the Post office and asked Mrs Austin <5> to send a packet of envelopes to the Abbey. She had the right size, & I took one packet myself. – You will probably see Charles <6> again on Saturday – If my specimen of yellow narcissus remains fresh till Sat. I shall send it you by Knott. <7> – It has 3 flowers of at the top of each stalk; & I don’t think we have any exactly like it at Lacock. All these varieties are pretty. – We learn by a post Card from Matilda that Jack <8> will come to us on Saturday. She is delighted with her success at Edinburgh, where some of her Pictures were received at the Exhibition – One of them, (‘Glen Rosa’) has been bought by the “Association” for 20 Guineas – This will stimulate her to further attempts. –
Your affectionate
Constance
Notes:
1. 4 the Circus, Bath; frequent summer home of Constance Talbot, now a Museum of Costume.
2. The Times (London).
3. Cecilia Louisa Menteath, wife of Charles Granville Stuart Menteath (1800–1880), barrister.
4. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter, and Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal ].
5. See Doc. No: 03369.
6. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
7. Richard Knott, of Lacock.
8. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter, and John Henry Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Jack’ (1861–1902), WHFT’s grandson.