Saturday 8 Decr
My dear Henry
The said Charles John Pope <1> is about the middle size with a very tanned face & a mouth going in from want of teeth, age about 60, I should think. Says he lives in Bridge Street Chippenham, <2> & that his wife has a small property in Kent, which had taken him thro’ London. I am quite ashamed of having been so taken in, it is as bad as Gwynne’s <3> uncle!! with the wooden leg!!! I am quite grieved that it is all owing to my unwittingly pinning my faith on what Lord Lansdowne <4> said, that all this contre tems <5> has happened, Caroline’s <6> disappt – Horatias <7> & yours!! The Xtening <8> is finally fixed for next Saturday the fifteenth so pray be here. I have seen Constance <9> again, & took her to be introduced to Matilda & Augusta <10> who were quite enchanted with her – & thought her lovely. We wrote to urge Mr F. <11> to go to day to you but I fear it was too late. I shall never get really acquainted with Constance while she is under her Mother’s <12> wing but when we have her at Laycock en famille <13> I do not think she will be so silent. Perhaps she is afraid of Mrs M.
affly yours
EF
I wish I was with you
You will not wish to be in the next parliament
Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts
Notes:
1. See Doc. No: 02495.
2. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
3. Mrs Gwynne (d. winter 1841/1842), lady’s maid, cook and housekeeper to Elisabeth Feilding.
4. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.
5. She means ‘complication, hitch’.
6. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
7. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
8. The christening of William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
9. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
10. Matilda Feilding (1775-1849)and Augusta Sophia Hicks, née Feilding; sisters of WHFT’s step-father.
11. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
12. Sarah Leaper Mundy, née Newton (d. 1836), WHFT’s mother in law.
13. As a family.