4 Circus <1>
Sunday Nov. 21st
My dear Henry
Thanks for your little diagram of the Planets & Capricorn. – We will look out; and as we have an excellent South-Westerly aspect, may hope to discern their position without difficulty, provided the sky be clear; but at present (3 O.C) it is very hazy – Certainly less cold than yesterday – although the brightness & exceeding warmth of the Sun yesterday was such that we required no fires on the South Side of the house until evening – Yet out of doors the air was so keen that I only ventured to step out for a moment in the garden – I am not surprised that you complained of feeling cold at Lacock – and I must confess I rather rejoiced personally at being safely housed here. I return Mr Roach’s <2> note. Of course there could be no chance of private conversation with the Bishop unless except by previous arrangement. – which can could only be brought about by Mr Roach writing to him in the way you suggested. – If he will not be advised, we cannot help it, and his fall will only be accelerated thereby – You will I am sure write to me when there is anything settled –
We get the ‘Times’ <3> regularly – I came away without mentioning it, but I knew you would think of it for me. There is always such a press of things to attend to at the last moment, that I feel quite incapacitated – I am rather ashamed of the fact – as I dare say it is partly want of management. & which I always try to mend – The best circumstance in the whole thing is the quiet drive out in a carriage instead of coming by rail – I really enjoyed the repose of the drive – which was not so long after all – only 1¾ hours. I hope you will sometimes enquire after the well doing of the Markeaton <4> & Sandridge-cottage plants: lest Wilkins <5> should forget them – Harriot’s <6> Irises were to be planted out in the centre borders of the centre walk in the middle garden – And you thought of the rock work for some of the others.
Your affectionate
Constance
[envelope:]
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. Edwin Osmond Roach (1828-1876), Irish-born Vicar of St Cyriac's, Lacock, 1870-1876; Asst Provincial Grand Chaplain, Freemason.
3. The Times (London).
4. Markeaton Hall, Derbyshire, NW of Derby: home of the Mundy family.
5. Possibly John Wilkins, son of George Wilkins, employed at Lacock ca.1867–1869.
6. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.