My dear Henry

I am rather glad you do not come today as I shall be out at the time the coach arrives. – Aunt Matilda ^<1> wants you to recommend her some kind of Botanical dictionary suited to the capacity of a young beginner. – she thinks you might have some book of the kind of at Lacock, that you could bring up with you & lend to her. – She recollects Lady Mary Cole ^<2> presenting you with a book of that description upon which you valued highly as her gift. – Aunt M. therefore does not expect you to lend her that one but something of the kind. – Though I do not imagine you will have a minute to spare after you receive this, I just mention it in case you should like to act upon it. – It is merely to enable her to know the names of plants when she sees them. –

I send you the newspaper as usual, to amuse you in the coach; but do not read it before you set out & so be too late. –

Y^r affec^te
Constance

Wednesday July 2^d . –

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Notes:

1. Matilda Feilding (1775-1849), WHFT's 'aunt' - sister of Charles Feilding, his stepfather.

2. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776–1855), WHFT’s aunt.