[written on the same sheet as a note from Ela - see see Doc. No: 04529]
Lacock Abbey
Sunday July 30 –
My dear Henry
Mr Kenrick <1> has just been here to enquire after Mr Feilding <2>. – He is very anxious to know what probability there is of his being able to go abroad and at what distance of time the journey is likely to take place, if decided upon. – He says that he should wish to have several week’s [sic] notice in order to make his own private arrangements. – He had proposed going up to London this evening – but as his principal object was to see Mr Feilding & make arrangements with him about the said journey, he now intends to adopt my suggestion of waiting to hear whether Mr Feilding feels himself strong enough to converse with him on the subject – I told him I would write to you today to make the enquiry; & therefore, (if you can) I hope you will send me an answer by return of post – Mr Kenrick offers to put off his journey to London either one, two, or three weeks to suit Mr Feilding’s convenience – but he would evidently be glad to know now what is likely to be decided upon – Perhaps he might wish (as he seems bent upon going abroad in some way or another) to accompany some other family if Mr Feilding is unable to travel – but this is only my private conjecture – as he did not hint at such a thing himself. – I took the opportunity of his visit to remark upon Ela’s <3> pale looks – & ask his opinion about her – He thinks that a little meat for her dinner occasionally would be more likely to restore her roses than anything – so she is to begin tomorrow. – In a letter from Laura <4> this morning she says that both Harriot <5> as well as themselves are wishing very much to hear that Ela is allowed a little some meat – Harriot & her children reached Brighton last Wednesday without experiencing any of the Election annoyances which she had anticipated – My Brother <6> affectionately travelled as far as Southampton to meet her – It seems that Southampton Races occurred just at the moment she had fixed upon for her journey – but she was fortunate enough to get horses there as well as at other places – Both her children are well – The present house on Brunswick Terrace is too small to contain the whole party comfortably & has the additional objection of being extremely noisy – so they are busily engaged in looking out for another, & fortunately there seems to be plenty of choice – Marian <7> has suffered a good deal from the oppressive weather which we have had lately – but I hope the present refreshing change will do her good – It rained here almost the whole of yesterday – all the previous night & part of last night – I rejoice to think how much good it will do – today also we have had a few showers – Mr Paley <8> did not give us the promised charity Sermon this morning, but there will be one this evening preached by Mr Edward Phipps of Devizes – I do not much think I shall go to hear it – I hope you have got the letter which I wrote to you on Friday, after rece[iving]<9> yours – I directed it to Richmond. – Thank you for telling me about the hall steps. – Bankes <10> sent a note yesterday to say that he will commence them tomorrow if the weather is fine – There is a beautiful yellow flax just blown in your garden, also the yellow pinks – Everything looks refreshed by the rain, but my view of them was only a hasty one on my way to church –
Ela wanted to write a great deal more, but I told her it must be another day – Love to Horatia <11> –
Your affte
Constance. –
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
the Marquis of Lansdowne’s <12>
Richmond
Surrey
Notes:
1. Dr George Cranmer Kenrick, surgeon living at The Grove, Melksham.
2. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
3. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
4. Laura Mundy (1805–1842), WHFT’s sister-in-law.
5. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.
6. William Mundy (1801-1877), politician, WHFT’s brother-in-law.
7. Her sister, Marian Gilder, née Mundy (1806 – 14 October 1860); m. 6 August 1844 William Troward Gilder (d. 1871), Army Surgeon (ret).
8. Rev James Paley (1790–1863), Vicar at Lacock.
9. Text torn away under seal.
10. George Banks, snr (1786–1864), stonemason & coalseller, Lacock.
11. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
12. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.