Lacock Abbey
Nov 2d
My dear Henry
I am very sorry to hear that you had such a miserably cold journey but glad you arrived quite safe Had you been travelling today you might have been a little less cold, perhaps, but I think you would have had an excellent chance of being blown over How good you were to write me such a nice letter when you were still suffering so much from your cold journey!! We are all thriving here, only we have been extremely tormented by smoking chimneys all the mor[e>] & After wandering from one room to anoth[er] actually sitting with open windows to avoid [being]<1> stifled, I have at length found recovered the enjoyment of a pure atmosphere in the Dining room of which I made trial in a fit of despair after giving up all the others. But every now and then the rain pours down in such dense columns that I am almost in darkness, so you must not expect more than a short letter from me Did you get a thick packet from Chippenham <2> which I enclosed to Mr Strangways <3> yesterday? Pray send me due notice of Lady Elisabeth <4> in coming home, that I may get the rooms properly aired
yr affte
Constance
H. F. Talbot Esqre
Sackville Street
Notes:
1. Text torn away under seal.
2. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
3. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (17951865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.
4. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, n้e Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (17731846), WHFTs mother.