Laycock Abbey
10th March
My Dear Henry
Lady Stewart <1> being worse & having written to Mr F. <2> to hasten him that she might talk to him while her thoughts were collected he set off this morning at seven o’clock to Hampton Court & you will see him in town Saturday or Sunday. He has left it to us to decide whether we follow him to town, or whether he returns here. Your Sisters <3> are urgent to stay, & really I do not see any use in going to town so near Passion Week which begins the 27th. It would be better to take them up blooming immediately afterwards.
For myself I like this place more & more every day & shall be sorry to leave it. We have given Caroline’s drawing of the Bridge to Gale, <4> he certainly is born with a native taste, for as soon as he cast his eyes on it he immediately saw it was a more graceful shape than his own, & had the candour to say so.
Horatia rides Mr Methuen’s <5> horse every day with great success, she is charmed with it. They are both out all day either gardening or on horse back, which I am sure must be good for them
aff yrs
E T F
Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
31. Sackville Street
Notes:
1. Lady Katherine Stewart, née Charteris (d 8 Oct 1863). See also Doc. No: 05542.
2. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
3. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister, and Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
4. John Gale, carpenter at Lacock.
5. Paul Methuen, Baron Methuen (1779–1849), MP.