Penrice Sept 22d
My dear Henry
Knowing how tenderly attached you are to our dear Horatia I have hesitated to write to you – but it seems unnatural not to express something of my very sincere sympathy for your loss as well as my own – how lively a recollection I have of her here a dear little girl of two or three years old when you all came to spend a winter here – never was there a purer or more innocent mind – yet joined with that capacity of intellect and acquired knowledge which made her a most agreeable companion to persons even of the highest ability while her sweet disposition made it impossible to know her without loving her – how Kind & tender to the poor she was – I never saw Mr Gaisford nor did I see her after her Marriage, but I cannot help being sincerely sorry for him & I hope the little boy will live to be a comfort to him here after – It is soothing to consider that what is our loss is her gain & with - [illegible] that we shall go to her though she shall not return to us – I wish we had any prospect of seeing you & Mrs Talbot & the children in Glamorganshire pray think about it. I can assure you there are few people we should be so glad to have at Cordingham for a comfortable long visit – Young people are sure to enjoy any thing new and you might find something to interest you in the garden – Mrs Talbot would like to see her girls amused & though we have not such fine scenery as you have at the Lakes we have some picturesque Country & ruins – my love to them
your affectionate cousin
Charlotte Traherne
[envelope]
H. Fox Talbot Esqr
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham