Waterhead <1>
Sunday
My dear Henry
I have a large packet 4 letters <2> of miscellaneous looking letters to send you perhaps you may not care for them all, but I send them for fear of doing wrong We had a most prosperous days shopping yesterday at Kendal and found the tradespeople very civil, though their stock of such goods as we wanted rather small Mr Allen, the blanket-man, wanted to send an order to Manchester for the whole but as there seemed a possibility of the goods not being delivered soon enough for [illegible deletion] our use at Grasmere on Thursday, we urged him to try for the requisite number at other shops in Kendal, which he did and all were collected & submitted to our inspection They will be sent by Carrier tomorrow, & the pillows & beds on Wednesday Mr Horn the upholsterer is the most agreeable, civil man to deal with that it is possible to meet; and the bedding scarcely so expensive as I had expected. There was rather a bustle in the town from its being market-day We went by the road in about 2 hours & were satisfied with our choice indeed the train would have allowed insufficient time On Friday I went to the Cottage with Jones <3> and examined into everything & gave some orders We found a dome lamp for the drawing room, requiring but little repair and a few other useful things. That day was fully occupied with taking thought, & preparations for Kendal yesterday.
Today we dine rather earlier & are going to Church in cars.
I have excellent accounts of Charles <4> both from himself & Mrs Williams <5> I wished to have bought him a little boat or ship yesterday that he might float on the cold bath in the garden at Grasmere but the toy-shops offered nothing of the sort If you could buy something in London no matter how common, provided it will float or sail, I should like it
your affte
Constance
Notes:
1. Lakes District.
2. See Doc. No: 05890.
3. Jones, servant.
4. Charles Henry Talbot (18421916), antiquary & WHFTs only son.
5. Emma Williams, from Asheworth Vicarage.