4 Circus <1>
Decr 1st/74
My dear Henry
Thanks for enclosing Mr Roach’s note. I am glad that his daughter Harriette arrived safely in the West Indies. I confess I feel much more interested now about his eldest daughter–<2> Charles <3> tells me that they consider her somewhat better. – I have not yet made the enquiry I promised about the Straw paper. <4> I thought the little store I left with you might have lasted till I could get out and ask about it myself. I have a bad cold, and have not left the house since I came – Will it be soon enough to send the best I can meet with by Knott <5> next Saturday, or would you wish it before?
We will read the particulars of Mr Boger’s’discovery in the Times. <6> Thank you for directing our attention to it – it is often a chance whether one sees these things. I am glad to hear from Charles that you can manage the business with your publisher without going up to Town expressly for that. We have many dark unpleasant days just now, and it might be dreary in the British Museum. – much too dark I should fancy for copying the Inscriptions.
We had very rough weather here on Sunday – I have not heard whether Bath is much flooded near the River; but I dare say it is – I am sorry you have the water so much out at Lacock – however we had been very free for a long time. I do not recall to mind when the last flood took place.
What is the name of this pretty little flower? Wilkins <7> sent in a plant of it on Saturday with our ferns & chrysantheums[sic] to the wire stand in the drawing room.
Will you thank Charles for his letter to me – and say I wish to have the little Diary from Cochrane’s <8> which he mentions, sent here along with other things on Saturday.
Ela <9> wrote to you by the early post this morning –
Your affectionate
Constance
My cold is better – but I don’t expect to get out yet for some days –
It will be time to leave off our mourning on Sunday – will you please have your hat band removed?
Notes:
1. 4 the Circus, Bath; frequent summer home of Constance Talbot, now a Museum of Costume.
2. Edwin Osmond Roach (1828-1876), Irish-born Vicar of St Cyriac's, Lacock, 1870-1876; Asst Provincial Grand Chaplain, Freemason. Harriet was his 4th child and 3rd daughter, b. 1855 - at this time, it is not known why she went to the West Indies. His eldest daughter was Charlotte, b. 1851.
3. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
4. See Doc. No: 03877.
5. Richard Knott, of Lacock.
6. Deeble Boger (d. 1875), of Wolsdon; solicitor to the Mt Edgcumbes. He read a paper to the Royal Institution of Cornwall, explaining that his legal duties to the Edgumbe family caused him to read some 14th c. Minutes, which he speculated had been unopened since they were written. On translating these, he discovered what he thought was a previously unknown fact, that Edward the Black Prince had visited Cornwall twice, once in 1353 and again in 1362. “ An Historical Discovery. - Mr. Deeble Boger,” Times, 30 November 1874, p. 12. This brought an immediate response in the form of a letter to the editor from George Wilmshurst, Keeper of the Records for the Duchy of Cornwall, saying that visits were well known and that the 14th c. Minutes were referred to frequently. Times, 1 December 1874, p. 10.
7. George Wilkins (b. 1814), gardener at Lacock.
8. John Cochrane, printer, bookseller & binder, Melksham.
9. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.