Duchess Street ^<1>
Monday Aug 22

My dear Henry

I am glad to hear from Ela ^<2> that you are safely arrived at home – & I hope you are feeling tolerably well – now that the weather continues so cool & pleasant. – Shall you not think of making a little tour, now immediately, before Lady Elisabeth & Horatia ^<3> go to Lacock Abbey? – You half promised me you would do so during my absence – Remember dear Henry, your precious health, which you never take proper care of at home – for which reason you decided it would be best to avoid home for a bit. – I hope you are satisfied with all at home, & that you find my arrangement with Miss Cotton ^<4> to answer the purpose of keeping everything in comfortable order. – I paid you 2 visits in Sackville St. ^<5> which I suppose you heard of – I had nothing particular to say, – but rather thought I should like to see you, & assure you that I was taking due care of my health by going out in the carriage every day. – Dear Laura’s ^<6> state at present, is one of less suffering than it has been – She passes many hours of the day in a state of quietness & sleeps lightly when not tormented by her cough – The nourishment she takes is next to nothing – a few spoonsfull of thin arrowroot – or milk – and other liquids of a like nature taken from time to time is all that she has – scarcely enough, one should think to sustain life – She has still sufficient power just to leave her bed to have it made, but seems much exhausted afterwards – Her existence seems almost miraculous – but M^r Gilder ^<7> says she may still continue some time in this state – as long as she has the power of swallowing. – My Brother ^<8> left us last night to attend a meeting of the Magistrates today at Derby – to consider of the measures necessary for the preservation of the peace – He will return tomorrow or next day. – Will you thank Ela for the nice letter I had from her this morning! –

Your affectionate
Constance

---

Notes:

1. London home of the Mundy family.

2. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1^st daughter.

3. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother, and Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.

4. A flower painter.

5. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.

6. Her sister, Laura Mundy (1805- 1 September 1842).

7. William Troward Gilder (d. 1871), Army Surgeon (ret), m. 6 August 1844 her sister Marian(1806 – 14 October 1860); m. 6 August 1844).

8. William Mundy (1801-1877), politician, WHFT’s brother-in-law.