Tuesday 14th May
Lacock Abbey, Chippenham.
My dear Papa,
Thank you for your letter just received – I was on the point of writing to complain that we had heard nothing from you since your departure. I hope you got a letter from me directed to the Balmoral hotel and containing an inclosure. I wrote on Saturday. You complain of bad weather in Edinburgh but we had worse at Lacock, actually two snowstorms on Saturday, and Wilkins <1> had to Cover up all his newly planted bedding out plants – he seemed to think the Seasons had gone demented! he never remembered to have seen a snowstorm so late in the year before, Mama <2> writes that she will probably be here tomorrow. Mamie and Monie <3> stay at Bath a week longer. – There is really nothing to say, so you must excuse a short letter – Please to give my love to all at Dabton Speddoch <4>
Yr most affete daughter
Ela
I think that on the whole you seem to have prospered in your sightseeing – How long do you stay at Speddoch?
Weather yesterday – mild and very wet; today mild and gloomy –
Do not forget to give Baby her mug.
Notes:
1. George Wilkins (b. 1814), gardener at Lacock.
2. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
3. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal ], and Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.
4. Speddoch, Dumfriesshire, 10 mi NW of Dumfries: home of WHFT’s daughter Matilda.