Lacock Abbey
Tuesday Oct. 20th
My dear Henry
I was delighted with your letter from Coblentz of the 9 10th received this morning – & I was very glad to find that you had at last received a letter from me – I have since written twice – to Coblentz on the 13th, <1> – & to Bruges on the 18th <2> – And I have received from you all the letters you mention – & have been very much interested by your rapid journey – I am especially glad you have had better weather than ours – but though we seem to have had more rain, I think we have had more sunshine – often a combination of the two.– I should have liked to eat grapes with you on the Moselle & to scramble to the castle of Ely & gather those curious fungi in the Forest – and I am very glad your town has answered your object in improving your health, & has afforded you a reasonable share of enjoyment. – more a great deal, than I thought you could have had – I am happy to tell you that you need not hurry home on account of business – I sent a special messenger to Mr Awdry <3> as soon as I had your letter this morning & received the following answer – “I am not aware of any business which requires Mr Talbot’s immediate attention The packet to which he refers, relates to the deviation of Wick Lane about which there was a meeting yesterday – & which I attended – I presume you have told Mr Talbot that Mr Mundy <4> signed the Exchange Deed. <5> if he wishes me to get it signed by Mr Mansel Talbot <6> I will be obliged by his giving me a Note of introduction to him – The packets which you have received from me need not be forwarded. I was not aware he was out of England when I sent it.”–
Very few fresh letters come in for you now to swell the heap which is already large enough – Horatia <7> asks for news of you – I must write & tell her – Lady Lansdowne <8> is looking very well. I have been to see her today – & found her alone & had a very nice comfortable chat with her – Luncheon was just over & she was preparing for her drive – They have been at Windsor since their return & came back only yesterday & today they are expecting Ld & Lady Holland, <9> & Mr Moore <10> is to meet them – Lord Ebrington <11> is there – I met Lord L. <12> & him setting out for their ride – Little Clanmaurice <13> is still at Broadstairs & is to remain a fortnight longer – he is already much better, but Lady L. told me he had been as ill as possible – & made them all very uneasy – The Baby <14> she says is very strong & well – If you go through Paris, will you be so kind as to remember our commissions, particularly the Grains de Sante! – We have also a little business at M Philipou’s – Maison Aubert Place de la Bourse – if you feel inclined to make it a motive for calling upon him – It is this – We are desirous of receiving regularly the ‘Modes Parisiennes’ published by him, either monthly or otherwise – Mlle A. <15> is acquainted with the lady who edits it – & has written to her within the last few days to put me down as a regular Subscriber – therefore if you like to call & ask whether this is done you can – if not it is of no consequence.– All our children <16> are now pretty well – & Matilda almost herself again – Mlle A is still souffrante <17> – I believe she is not yet acclimatée – & perhaps she will be stronger & better next year – She has now a cold & suffers from a sore mouth.
I suppose this is the last letter you will expect from me – as your return cannot be far distant. –
Your affectionate
Constance
Notes:
1. Letter not located.
3. West Awdry (1807–1892), solicitor, Chippenham.
4. William Mundy (1801-1877), politician, WHFT’s brother-in-law.
5. Deed of Exchange relating to sale of land for railway bridges on the Lacock Estate. See Doc. No: 05741, Doc. No: 05790, Doc. No: 05866, Doc. No: 05917.
6. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
7. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
8. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), wife of Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838; WHFT's aunt.
9. Charles Richard Fox (1796–1873), son of the 3rd Lord Holland, politician and coin collector; Lady Mary, née Fitzclarence (d. 1864).
10. Thomas Moore (1780–1852), Irish poet.
11. Hugh Fortescue, Viscount Ebrington and 2nd Earl Fortescue (1783–1861), politician.
12. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.
13. Henry Charles Keith Petty Fitzmaurice, Viscount Clanmaurice (b. 1845), son of Sir Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, Lord Shelburne, 4th Marquess of Lansdowne (1816–1866), MP and WHFT's cousin, and his second wife, Hon Emily Jane Mercer-Elphinstone-de Flahault, Baroness Nairne (1819-1895).
14. Edmond George Petty Fitzmaurice (b. 1846), son of Henry Fitzmaurice, Lord Shelburne, 4th Marquess of Lansdowne (1816–1866), MP.
15. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
16. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter, Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter, Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter and Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
17. suffering