Lacock Abbey
Sunday March 31.
My dear Henry
I like your Prospectus extremely & have sent it on to Lady Elisabeth <1> as she will like to see it & it will partly answer her letter by shewing how you are now engaged and as I imagine unable to go to Mount Edgcumbe, <2> which I was very anxious too you should make time for But I did not know you would be kept in London so long It is so difficult to manage everything
Marian <3> enjoys her visit & we both rejoice in this lovely weather. I did sow all the Hort. seeds immediately & Humphries <4> put them on the top shelf
I send Lady Elisabeths letter received this morning I have just answered it I am at a loss to reconcile your account with hers respecting her destination on Wednesday but I imagine mine must be the latest news Perhaps she means to go on from hence in a few days I forward a note from Mr Awdry <5> which he enclosed to me yesterday
Your affectionate
Constance
[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esqr
31 Sackville Street
London
Notes:
1. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, n้e Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (17731846), WHFTs mother.
2. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe
3. Her sister, Marian Gilder, n้e Mundy (1806 14 October 1860); m. 6 August 1844 William Troward Gilder (d. 1871), Army Surgeon (ret).
4. John Humphries, gardener at Lacock Abbey in the early 1840s.
5. West Awdry (18071892), solicitor, Chippenham.
6. Bowden Park, Wiltshire, 1 mi SE of Lacock and Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne