Laycock Abbey
Tuesday 4^th

My dear Henry

You know I had quite made up my mind to go to Wales, only had not quite settled the day & did not like to propose myself definitively till I had. Today I have a letter from Theresa Nicholl ^<1> pressing me to come & giving a list of the steamers for the month – whereby it appears that if I delay till the 15^th I shall have to sail at 5 in the morn^g qui ne me sourit pas du tout – & I am thinking therefore of choosing the 11^th or 12^th when it goes at a reasonable hour.

If I were not engaged elsewhere, I sh^d like your Scotch plan very much – tho’ I think it is full late to begin a tour in the Highlands & I feel hardly strong enough to walk & climb hills as I sh^d wish to do if I went exploring with you. I went to lunch at Bowood ^<2> today & found Aunt L. ^<3> quite in raptures with M^t E. ^<4> L^d. L. ^<5> has a slight touch of gout which will present their setting out tomorrow but they hope next day he will be well enough. I hope my letters were in good time for your friend – I was quite tried with much writing. – It was a beautiful afternoon – sitting in the Italian garden with my Aunt – quite like summer.–

Will you not change your mind once more & come to Wales with me! – unless you are really going abroad in which case I think you ought not to put it off long.

Y^r aff
Horatia

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Notes:

1. Theresa Nicholl, related to Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).

2. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.

3. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), wife of Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3^rd Marquess of Lansdowne; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838; WHFT's aunt.

4. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.

5. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3^rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.