4 Circus Bath <1>
March 11th 1875
My dear Papa,
Mama <2> thanks you for your letter <3> received yesterday. I hope the Lelia will not be gone off before I come over next week. I think it is worth all the other flowers in the green house put together, and I have been telling Ela <4> she ought to go and establish herself in its company for a week to paint its portrait!
The crocuses here also are making a splendid show, the first hyacinths opening, scilla in blossum <sic> &c. We are very proud, having planted every one of them ourselves. Mama unluckily caught cold again, so that she was unable to enjoy those very mild days. Yesterday she remained in bed and today is better. The wind today excessively sharp, though the sun is so warm. Tilly <5> <sic> second account of Miss Bryndum was as good as the first. She thinks her pleasant and ladylike, and the children, who were rather frightened at first, were getting accustomed to her. She speaks and writes English and French extremely well, and German also of course. Tilly intends to study German with her.
Mama sent Tilly your remarks on Mr G. Smiths <6> discoveries – They will interest her.
I suppose Cox has heard nothing yet of the footman he was enquiring about, as he has not written again.
It is so dark I can see no more so goodbye, dear Papa.
Everybody sends their love.
Your most affectionate daughter
Rosamond
Notes:
1. 4 the Circus, Bath; frequent summer home of Constance Talbot, now a Museum of Costume.
2. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
4. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
5. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
6. George Smith (1840–1876), Assyriologist. Assyrian discoveries; an account of explorations and discoveries on the site of Nineveh, during 1873 and 1874 (London: S. Low, Marston, Low, & Searle, 1875). [See Doc. No: 04351].