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Document number: 06039
Date: Fri 05 Nov 1847
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: GAISFORD Henrietta Horatia Maria, née Feilding
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Last updated: 20th February 2012

Naples
Friday 5th Novr

My dear Henry

Here we are arrived safe, & very comfortable for the present, after our 2 days voyage – We embarked Saturday in the Maria Antoniella, not the large one we had expected but a good size too – We had most beautiful weather the sea like a lake, so we were rewarded for waiting. The next morning we got into Civita Vecchia early & went ashore to breakfast – it is not an interesting place further than being in Pio IX <1> dominions & shewing his flag We dined on deck Sunday & passing Ostia were summoned to look out for St Peters – I tried very hard but could only see it with the eyes of my mind – all the others however did distinctly – Albano was very plain – About After dark we passed Terracina & I saw Monte Circello coming out plainly – the night was beautiful, the stars so bright. We had been very tired the first night, not having undressed & our berths being somewhat hard & narrow – but the second I got very stiff & achy, & was glad to get up about 5 & go on deck, when I found we were just abreast of Capri & Misenum – the stars & moon still bright & a fresh morning breeze blowing. I hardly knew Mt Vesuvius the shape is so altered with a single cone on the top. The day dawned just as we came round into the bay but the sun did not think fit to rise till we were just arrived. There were some pleasant Russo-Poles we made acquaintance with on board – I wish they were coming to Palermo. We did not land for 4 hours owing to the difficulty of getting leave to get the carriages ashore, being fête day, & Lord Mt E. <2> wishing to land in his to avoid trouble. We tried in vain to get an order from the Douane but were obliged at last to have him hoisted out & put in a wretched little boat – such talking noise & confusion as you never heard. I was afraid he wd be ill with the fatigue of the voyage & all the bother – but he bore it wonderfully & has been out drawing several times, & last night to the Opera. He talked of setting out again Thursday for Palermo, but I was very glad changed [sic] his mind, & the next good boat not going till the 9th we are here at peace till then. Possibly C. <3> may come fm Leghorn in time to go with us – but I hardly expect it – indeed she could not without coming by sea fm Genoa, & really 3 nights [illegible] is too much. I have been very much disappointed at finding no letters here from any of you, as I asked you to direct here so long ago. I would not trust the courier but went myself & looked at all the Fs’ [sic] but in vain.

We went yesterday to Pozzuoli & Baia – & back by Cuma & the Arco felice – I remembered it all, as well as if it was yesterday. There were some pretty pale Cyclamens growing at Cuma, not the same pink sort we found Como [sic], nor so sweet – tomorrow I believe we are going Pompeii [sic]. Mr Fayrer went up Vesuvius yesterday – he found the ascent very difficult & rather perilous, for there were showers of stones flying about, & some came very near his head – the guide was quite alarmed at their persisting to go up. There was flame too occasionally & rumbling noises – very different to when we were there. Today we drove up to Capo di Monte such a lovely view with beautiful stone pines in the foreground. Adieu dear Henry, please write & tell me all you can think of I shall be so disappointed if I do not find any letters at Palermo either. I hope Bath has answered – & that Dr W. <4> has been able to suggest some good system for Ela. This is Val’s <5> birthday – actually 15! We drank his health in Moscato di Siracusa. He is by no means impatient for Dr Graulish’s appearance & enjoys this vie nomade <6> very much as you may suppose. Annie’s <7> hand has healed wonderfully quick, considering it was a cut with glass. The joint is still very stiff but she can use it – the least bit lower down, Mr F. said wd have made it stiff for life. I am glad we shall not be at P. much before C. for we could not settle ourselves comfortably with such a man as Bollinot, He is a capital cook but in other respects most unfit for a travelling servant – He only gets into scraps & difficulties of his own making, instead of helping one – It is lucky C. has got a better one to take care of her. We have written to engage the Villa Belmonte for fear it shd be taken before we get there. Love to Constance & the chicks <8> – & am

Yr aff sister
Horatia

Mr Temple <9> is absent wh I regret as he is an old friend. The Wicklows are here Ld Eastnor <10> & Mr Tomkins[?] Ld Napier <11> chargé d’affaires – Bonsoir I must be up early to go by the 9 o’clock train to Pompeii


Notes:

1. Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti (1792–1878), Pope Pius IX from 1846 to 1878.

2. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.

3. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.

4. Dr Watson. [See Doc. No: 06251].

5. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter; William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.

6. Nomadic life.

7. Caroline's husband's niece through his sister, Lady Caroline Sophia Edgcumbe (d. 10 April 1824), who was the first wife of Reginald George Macdonald (d. 1873): in 1848, Annie Sarah (sometimes Sarah Anne) married Alfredo Salvatori Ruggioro Andrea, Baron Porceilli di Sant Andrea, a Sicilian nobleman and revolutionary commander.

8. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife and Ela Theresa Talbot, 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.

9. Probably Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784–1865), statesman.

10. Charles Somers, 3rd Earl Somers, Viscount Eastnor (1810–1883)

11. Francis Napier, Lord Napier and Ettrick (b. 1819).