Athole Crescent <1>
April 18th
My dear Henry
Charles <2> is much obliged by all your suggestions for his journey with a view to stopping at an interesting place. It is quite true that he cannot accomplish the whole distance in one day – He will therefore set off on Thursday, in order to reach Lacock the same day as you intend to return there yourself – because he wishes to have as much time there as possible. He does not particularly wish to see anything on the road, & will therefore go through on Thursday to London, as being the simplest line, & the shortest in point of time. – If you approve of his doing so, he will like to join you in London on Thursday night at Cox’s Hotel, or wherever you may be, and travel down with you to Lacock on Friday. But if you do not like him to join you in London (for reasons of business or any other) he would not go to Cox’s, but sleep at the Euston Sqr or Paddington Hotel, as being the least trouble. – Will you write him word by Tuesday’s post at what hotel you have taken up your quarters in London, & whether you like him to join you. – The Express is due in London at 9ּ30 – He went on Friday last to see the views of Malasia but he could not manage Abbotsford in time for the return train – He was much pleased with Melrose – He has been with us to an Assembly & one private Ball since his debut at the Club Ball. – both by his own desire; so that I have hopes of his <turning?> on to become really sociable. The weather is most enjoyable now – quite mild & Spring like – I hope it will continue the same for our visit to Kewsick – We are very much interested by all the discoveries in the old Lacock parchments, and which bear upon the Shrewsbury case – Both Sides must regret that they were not put in possession of these facts earlier –
Charles & I will go to M. Szabo’s <3> tomorrow & get his portrait taken in the first place, since you are still in the same mind about these likenesses, and I will take care to procure a copy of Sir David Brewster – We will look again at his portraits of Ladies, & hear what his idea are but I confess that I feel rather discouraged by the difficulties that present themselves where Ladies are the Sitters – They are certainly much more difficult to take than men.
Ela has written you a letter today & directed it to Lacock, as she says it may take its chance of reaching you quickly or not. I direct to the Athenaum <sic>, to save time and supposing that you will enquire for your letters there as usual. I think when we leave Edinburgh, our Copy of the Times’ might be stopped altogether, and I could get Mr Ivison of Keswick to order one for us during our stay there – Will not that save you trouble? –
Your affectionate
Constance
The 16th Lancers are going to give a Ball on Tuesday next the 20th. – and the other officers, Militia, Artillery &c on the 27th
If Charles goes to Chippenham by the same train as yourself will the Carriage hold his luggage as well as your’s? or will you, if you judge otherwise order the Cart to be in attendance at the Station for the luggages
Notes:
1. Edinburgh.
2. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
3. Iván Szabó (1822–1858), a Hungarian photographer, learned his craft in St Andrews before setting up his studio in Edinburgh in 1857. He was considered one of the premier portrait photographers in Scotland. See Julie Lawson, ‘Iván Szabó: A Hungarian Photographer in Scotland’, Shadow and Substance (The Amorphous Institute Press, 1990) pp.17–21.