2 Caledonia Place ^<1>
Thursday 6^th

My dear Henry

It is delightful to think of your coming over to see us – The plan at present is arranged to remain at Clifton ^<2> till Tuesday morning – & on that day proceed to Portshead ^<3>– and to Weston ^<4> on Thursday – Price ^<5> is to go over on Saturday to take a house for us at Weston – but should she not succeed in this, I think our best plan would be to remain at Clifton a little longer – But we leave all these after thoughts till we see the result of Price’s mission –

We have been today to see M^r Miles’s pictures at Leigh Court. ^<6> The collection is small, but all by the most celebrated artists – and very beautiful – Though a show house, everything looked comfortable – and not too fine – The drive is sadly tedious being a long round through Bristol – How splendid the weather continues! – It will do you all possible good to come I am sure – and you will be pleased to see all the children looking very blooming –

Baby ^<7> is surrounded daily by admirers – One old gentleman begged to know if he was not the Prince of Wales – which greatly diverted the children –

All the wee things ^<8> were made happy yesterday by a visit to the Zoological gardens –

Your affectionate
Constance. –

We are thinking of putting up a bed for you in the back dining room – if we can hear of any one who hires out such things – and I am certain we can make you much more comfortable in that way than if you had to go out of the house to sleep – I hope you will come on Saturday at latest – as you will be much happier here than at Portshead – but could you not come tomorrow? and if you should have a fancy to remain longer with us here we could put off sending Price to Weston – as you would arrive in time to stop her

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Notes:

1. Bristol. [See Doc. No: 04622].

2. Clifton, Bristol, on the Avon Gorge.

3. That is, Portishead.

4. Weston-super-Mare.

5. Mrs Sarah Henneman, first m Price ( ca.1811–1848), housemaid at Lacock Abbey.

6. Philip Miles (1774–1845), a wealthy Bristol ship-owner and banker, who commissioned Thomas Hopper (1776–1856), architect & surveyor, London to build Leigh Court at Abbots Leigh in 1814. His collection included paintings by Titian, Raphael, Rubens and other old masters.

7. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.

8. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1^st daughter, Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2^nd daughter and Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3^rd daughter.