Great Stuart St. <1>
Wednesday.
My dear Henry
I am glad to hear that you think of coming soon. If you are still at Lacock when this note reaches you, I wish you would tell me whether you think there is any chance of recovering a small article of mine which has been lost on the journey by goods train to Edinburgh sent off from Chippenham on the 19th October. I will explain. We had 2 large crates or cradles of furniture packed by Gales <2> men to come to Edinburgh We filled up the spaces with blankets, pieces of carpet, unbound publications, baskets, little articles of various kinds One thing I gave out was a small rose wood box with a mosaic on the lid what they call a glove box or netting box; and I valued it because it was a present Caroline <3> brought me from Rome many years ago The Carpenters wrapped a colored counterpane round it, tied with a string & placed it at the bottom of the smaller crate, (the square one) under a music waggon When the package was undone in this house there was no box forthcoming neither the counterpane in which it was wrapped. And there was a side of the carpetting which had secured the package, un-nailed. Therefore my box & counterpane must have been stolen by some one at some Goods station of the Railway. Would there be any use of in lodging a complaint at the Chippenham Station? If so will you order it to be done and Wilkins <4> I think would be a properer person to speak to the Station master than William Pullen <5>. The loss was not discovered as you may suppose until I arrived here myself & missed my little box.
your affectionate
Constance.
Notes:
1. 13 Great Stuart Street, Edinburgh, frequent home of the Talbots from 1863-1871.
2. John Gale, carpenter at Lacock.
3. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, nιe Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (18081881); WHFTs half-sister.
4. George Wilkins (b. 1814), gardener at Lacock.
5. William Pullen, Lacock Abbey coachman.