4 Circus <1>
Thursday April 15th
My dear Henry
It would be quite useless to us keeping Cox here more than a couple of days – the house Service being so simple, and no training required further while regular dinner service is suspended. If therefore the arrangement stands for Arthur to be here on Friday (tomorrow) evening or early on Sat. morning, Cox will have the whole of Saturday & Sunday to instruct him in his duties, and on Monday we shall send him back to Lacock Abbey. This is best, as far as I know at present; but should there be any reason to the contrary, we will write to apprise you of such intention –
We have at last got a change to Spring weather – Yesterday afternoon was charming, & the Sun quite hot with rather a keen air in the shade – but today is a still further improvemt, and I believe much warmer. – I promise myself a busy afternoon in a Bath Chair – Till now that manner of locomotion has been impossible the weather having continued so chilly. –
Are you not wanting some chocolate? It will be very pleasant for a drive to Bilton by the time you have finished with the Printer. I read in the Times that Mr Smith <2> is giving some Assyrian Lectures. I consider the ‘Times’ <3> was very shabby in not sending out a correspondent to Venice on the occasion of the meeting <4> of the Sovereigns – yet he had written a leading article in anticipation of the event, and said complimentary things to both nations, a few weeks since –
I am just returned from a two hours’ outing with Ela; <5> she walking, I in a Chair, to pay a visit in the Weston road, beyond Drummond’s. The day was very pleasant & we enjoyed ourselves.
Your affectionate
Constance
H. F. Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. 4 the Circus, Bath; frequent summer home of Constance Talbot, now a Museum of Costume.
2. George Smith (1840–1876), Assyriologist.
3. See ‘Assyrian History’, The Times (London), 12 April 1875, p. 7.
4. The meeting of Emperor Franz Joseph (1830–1916), Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and Victor Emmanuel II (1820–1878), King of Sardinia and 1st King of Italy, which took place on the 4th of June 1875. See The Times (London), 13 March 1875; p. 5. [See Doc. No: 04371].
5. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.