Oakfield
Thursday Nov 8th
My dear Henry
The two travellers had a safe journey and arrived at Oakfield at ½ past 8 yesterday evening they had reached Oxenholme according to their expectation by the mail train at 4 oclock in the morning but the economy of the Windermere Company has led them to suppress their mail train (if they ever had one) and letters are conveyed on by mail cart to Windermere. so that Goodwin & Co with their luggage were in a fix and were forced to wait at Oxenholme till a little before 9 when the first train started & brought them to Windermere. From thence they had no means of getting on till the Evening mail the same which brings your letters from Lacock & the South so we did not see anything of them till the hour I named, ½ past 8 Evening. They filled up their time sight seeing in the Windermere district, Grasmere &c finally starting for on their last stage at Grasmere Neither of them caught cold or seem the worse for all these night & day adventures It was very kind of you to give George Wilkins a great coat. for he certainly cannot have too many warm things I am going to introduce him today to Mr Donald and it happens opportunely that I have occasion to go to Greta Bank myself to wish the Speddings Good bye for they leave for Dover next Monday. I will give you message to Mr John Spedding Will you tell Wilkins (in case George should not have written himself) that he has arrived here safe & well. I have asked for him twice this morning, wishing to make a report; but he was out walking with Goodwins permission to see the beauties of the Country. I fancy he is very happy for G. has been extremely kind & indulgent to him treating him as if he were his own son
I must close my letter now, thanking you for the Portraits of the Imperial family, which we shall shew at Greta Bank today. Rosamond has been tormented with face-ache but it is better today. I think she was impudent in standing to make an out of door sketch, one fine day, early last week. She must be very careful for winter has set in now. and it wont do to begin the winter by by being ill she cannot go with us to Greta Bank, but perhaps the Spedding girls may have time to call & see her here. Patterson has sent me the copy of agreement with his own acceptance. Dear Tilly is delighted They go to Edinburgh next week
your affectionate
Constance.
Has Charles written to you?
[envelope]
H. F. Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham