Dover
Septr 17th
My dear Henry
Here we are detained by stress of weather as is usually the case I think. Ld Mt E. <1> meant to go to Ostend but finding the steamboat went today at 2 a.m. & every day till Tuesday will have to beat about outside the bar for several hours he has given that up – but the day turned out so stormy we could not go at all. It is still blowing very hard & pouring with rain & I fear there is not much chance for tomorrow but we must hope the best. It is doubly provoking to be stopped here after having been so hunted to get ready in time. If it is better tomorrow I believe we are to go to Calais & by Dunkerque to Ostend wh is certainly shorter than by Lille & Courtrai or by Boulogne & Abbeville & the horses straight to O. by sea. I saw old Ly Morley <2> in town who told me Lord L. <3> was ill with gout at Wiesbaden. If I could go & see Aunt L. en passant <4> I would, as it would be a pleasure to her – perhaps however by that time she will be gone. Pray write to Manheim [sic] without fail Love to Constance & Amandier <5> & kiss all the chicks for me Wright <6> saw Mr Brown, <7> who promised to write to you if he sold the house – He also saw Mr Young, a doctor, the man who is thinking of buying it – a very respectable character Tell me if you hear anything about it
Yr aff sister
Horatia
Notes:
1. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
2. Frances Parker, née Talbot, Lady Morley (d. 1857).
3. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.
4. In passing, on the way.
5. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife and Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
6. James Wright, footman to the Talbots & Constable for Lacock.
7. See Doc. No: 05727.