Lacock
26th November 1835
My Dear Mother
Snow <1> in the streets of Milan and Genoa in the beginning of November! We have not had a particle here! The weather is very mild and open. Caroline came yesterday and was much touchée <2> at finding herself again within the walls of the old abbey – I like Bimbo <3> very much, he has made acquaintance with Ela <4> and already seems to consider himself at home here. Yesterday was the Devizes Election which only lasted one day, (according to the act passed last Session) at the close the numbers were for Estcourt <5> 157, for Dundas <6> 145. – I have withdrawn myself from politics for the present, as they consume an unconscionable quantity of time, and I cannot side with either party at present, as my opinion lies between them.
I am very much occupied at present in writing mathematical papers, which require a great deal of time – We expect the Moore’s <7> [sic] to dinner today – we have dined once at Bowood <8> since they returned – Yesterday the first Election of Guardians for the Parish took place under the new Poor Law, when after much deprecation of the honour by everybody, farmer Fry and farmer Orchard were declared duly elected. It is an office that confers considerable power and authority, and those who are fond of professing that, will do well to be candidates – For it enables the holder of it to give or refuse relief to any family, the weight of his vote and recommendation being almost decisive of the question in so small an assembly as the Board of Guardians (50 or 60 for the whole union) –
We have called on the Rookes <9> & they on us, without our having yet met our feathered neighbours – I am afraid the journey thro’ France will be too difficult for you, without Mr F’s <10> company. The trouble is great, of bad roads and continual stoppage for want of horses – often half the day – La Poste est très mal montée <11> – Besides if you have no Courier, other travellers will easily obtain horses in preference to you, by dint of bribery – that is a common trick, and expands the ten days journey to Paris into fifteen or more. – I had a scene with a courier on this account last time I went that way, but finding that my rival candidates for Post Horses were Lord & Lady Jersey, <12> I suffered them to proceed after obtaining from the maitre de poste <13> a full recognition of my rights. Caroline <14> met with infinite troubles on the same road lately. I hope that the cool weather which has been so beneficial to you will continue. For my part I should like exceedingly to be at Nice for a month or two – Invite Horatia <15> to write to me sometimes – Fitz. <16> is not gone yet, and I daresay will stay a month or two later.
Poor Betty Vickery’s <17> brothers & sister are disputing about her little inheritance – I have put the matter into the hands of Mr West Awdry <18> who I think has a clear head, and will see justice done to each claimant. Our poor’s rates are diminishing, but I doubt whether our being incorporated with a large Union, will not be injurious –
Yours afftly
Henry
Miladi
Miladi Feilding
Poste Restante
Nice
par Antibes
France
Notes:
1. See Doc. No: 03164.
2. Touched.
3. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
4. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
5. Thomas Henry Sutton Sotheron Bucknall Estcourt (1801–1876), MP. [See Doc. No: 03167].
6. Laurence Dundas, 1st Earl of Zetland (1766–1839), Vice-Admiral and politician.
7. Thomas Moore (1780–1852), Irish poet.
8. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
9. Capt Frederick William Rooke (182–1855), of Lackham, Wilts, and his 2nd wife, Harriet, née Hyde.
10. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
11. The post (horse-relay system) is very badly set up.
12. George Child Villiers, 5th Earl of Jersey (1773–1859), and Sarah Sophia Villiers, née Fane, Lady Jersey (1785–1867).
13. Post master.
14. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
15. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
16. Cornelius Fitzsimmons, Scottish gardener at Lacock Abbey.
17. Elizabeth Vickery ‘Betty’, WHFT’s governess, who passed away on 25 September 1835. WHFT paid to have a gravestone placed at Cutcombe, Somerset, inscribed: 'Erected to the Memory of Elizbth Vickery his kind & faithful nurse by Henry Fox Talbot of Lacock Abbey in the country of Wilts Esqre'; the stone's inscription is still readable - See Doc. No: 03205.
18. West Awdry (1807–1892), solicitor, Chippenham.