Bath
Janry 21st
My dear Papa,
I arrived safely and without any particular adventure last evening at 6 o’clock, being only surprised to find snow on the ground since from Didcot here, as in London there was none, nor has there been any violent wind these last days, such as was experienced here.
Today is very bright and cold. Perhaps it really is the beginning of a frost! The last two days I spent with the Lancasters at their pretty little house in Sheffield Terrace, and with them I went on Saturday evening to the Kensington museum when it was all lit up, and looking very pretty, and on Sunday, to the morning service in St Paul’s Cathedral, by underground railway – They are decorating the interior of the dome extremely well with gilding and subdued colours, in excellent taste. From the Mansion house a large new street is being built full of very handsome houses. I think my eleven days in London were on the whole very well spent: as we went twice to the National Gallery, twice to the Exhibition of old Masters in Burlington House, a beautiful collection – twice to the S. Kensington Museum – to the Doré Gallery: Zoological gardens, where we saw the youthful Hippopotamus and all the wonders – to two plays, and two concerts, besides a dinner party at the Speddings; and to crown all actually accomplished Bethnal Green Museum without any difficulty and were enchanted with the pictures there – and in the drive going, passed a very handsome new, brick-built Station of the Midland Railway; & on the return were struck with the fine appearance of the great market at Smithfield, and also saw the Holborn Viaduct – I generally really did begin at last to understand something of the geography, and in order to complete my education therein, will you please ask Charles when he returns, to look out and send here the new map of London, Mama or you purchased on your return from the continent.
If you show this letter to Charles it will save my writing him a long one also, as I shall be rather busy for a few days.
Your affectionate daughter
Rosamond
I hope the lift works well, & does not make any disagreable [sic] noise. I hear Hill is delighted with it, as it saves so much trouble!
[envelope:]
H.F. Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham.