Lacock,
Sunday Decr 9th
Dear Mr F.
The Election is tomorrow; & perhaps will last 2 days, since Mr Mayne <1> is determined to plague Mr Neeld. <2> I expect 120 votes out of about 210 that we think will come to the poll. I reckon about 150 for Neeld 40 for Mayne, however the Event will show. I dine at Bowood <3> today. Kerry & Henry <4> give amusing accounts of their travels last summer, the first in Germany, Styria, &c. the other in Switzerland. There is no opposition to Kerry’s return.
On Wednesday I mean to return to Town – I think nothing need delay my marriage beyond the 20th and about the 27th we shall come to Lacock from Richmond which Lord Lansd. <5> has kindly lent me. I beg you will not invite anybody to Lacock before the 6th or 8th of January – Constance <6> does not like riding in the winter, otherwise I think Graphy would carry her safely, being much improved this autumn.
Yours in haste
Henry
Capt. Feilding R.N.
Melbury
Dorchester
Dorset
Notes:
1. John Mayne. [See Doc. No: 02500].
2. Joseph Neeld (1789–1856), MP & botanist.
3. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
4. William Thomas Fitzmaurice, Earl of Kerry (1811–1836), MP, and Henry Fitzmaurice, Lord Shelburne, 4th Marquess of Lansdowne (1816–1866), MP.
5. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.
6. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.