L. Abbey
Sunday 31st August
My Dear Henry
If the Railroad people <1> have no sinister intentions why should Sir J. A. desire an interview? & why should they try to circumvent you? Il y a quelque chose de louche là dedans <2> – & I wish you would set my mind & nerves at rest by being a little more explanatory. Sir J. A. must have had some motive – have you ever cleared it up? or seen Mr King? <3>
Lord Mt Edgcumbe <4> has given the most beautiful Fête to Ly Jersey, <5> & invited all the aristocracy & beauty & fashion of Devonshire & Cornwall. The Ball was in the Orangerie, & the Sea & Land were all brilliant with fireworks & Yachts illuminated &c &c – Caroline <6> danced all Night & Horatia <7> appears to have enjoyed herself, & Lady Jersey wrote me a letter full of enchantment with the Place (which she never saw before) & the whole thing. Lord Mt Edgcumbe ordered it & managed it all himself Caroline had nothing to do with it but to enjoy it. I have had a letter this morning from Lady Jersey offering to come here next Friday or Saturday She seems bent upon it. Are you going to Belgium? & what is settled with Mr C. Jones? <8> Don’t waste such charming weather within those smoky walls, & pray write if ever so short
Notes:
1. The Great Western Railway Company, which intended to build a branch line [the Wiltshire, Somerset and Weymouth Railway] running across WHFT’s land. WHFT was disputing the amount of compensation offered by the GWR Company. [See Doc. No: 05264, and Doc. No: 05285].
2. There’s something suspicious in this.
3. Of William Read King & Son, solicitors, London.
4. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
5. Sarah Sophia Villiers, née Fane, Lady Jersey (1785–1867).
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. Rev Calvert Richard Jones (1802–1877), Welsh painter & photographer.