Bowness,
Tuesday August 28th
My Dear Constance
Having now visited the three chief places in the Lake Country, viz. Keswick, <1> Ambleside, & Bowness, I can assure you that there is no tolerable accommodation to be found for yourself & the children, <2> so that your visit to the lakes must be of necessity deferred to another year – In fact I found only 4 houses to be let in the whole region & neither of them would do.
I advise returning to Malvern, <3> and after staying there as long as you think desirable, then to return home. I mean to wait here for your answer; – direct Post Office Bowness, Westmoreland –
Pray let me hear by return of post – If you decide for Malvern I can go there, and if you set out forthwith, I shall find you already established at the Bellevue <4> – If you don’t like the idea of Malvern I may as well go straight home to Lacock –
Yesterday was fine, today very rainy & rather miserable. – July would be the best time here I think – The post is just going –
Your affte
Henry
Mrs Talbot
Post Office
Derby
Notes:
1. Keswick, Cumberland.
2. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter, and Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.
3. Malvern, or Great Malvern, 9 mi SW of Worcestershire.
4. ‘Belle vue house’, a private residence in Southampton.