Melbury <1>
Dorchester
Sunday August 16th
My Dear Constance
I had a very pleasant drive to Carlisle on Wedny Evg the fine weather showed the scenery to great advantage. Even the high desolate moorlands in the middle of the journey, I thought were worth seeing for once. On approaching Carlisle, near Longtown, I was struck with the fine appearance of the woods and mansion of Netherby, the seat of the late Sir James Graham. <2> I slept at Lancaster – The Kings arms Inn has fallen off. Next day at Wigan I admired a new manufactory which is perhaps the handsomest in England, or rather the only goodlooking one: and at Birmingham the New Exchange <4> a Gothic Building which would I think have pleased Charles <4> to see, being a well attempted Architectural edifice which will produce showy effect when finished – I slept at Clifton & came on here on Friday at 5 oclock – I found here Caroline & Ld & Ly Digby <5> come over from Minterne with their children to pass the afternoon. They were a merry party playing Croquet and drinking Syllabub.
Yesterday we drove and walked in the Park, which looked beautiful & we measured the oak called Billy Wilkins – Today is Ernestines <6> Birthday when she completes her 20th year. The weather has changed to windy and showery. Pray send me 2 different carte de visite portraits of Matilda <7> and one of Mr Clark, <8> if you can be sure of replacing them by others – I want to give them to Ly Ilchester. <9> She is going to give you some of herself and William. <10> I think I shall leave this, on Thursday –
Your affte
Henry
Notes:
1. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there
2. Sir James Robert George Graham (1792–1861), statesman.
3. The splendid building for a limited liability company, costing £20,000, opened to the public in March 1865.
4. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
5. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister, .
6. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.
7. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
8. John Gilchrist-Clark (1830–1881), Scottish JP; WHFT’s son-in-law.
9. Lady Sophia Penelope Jolliffe, née Sheffield (1822-1882); first m. WTHF Strangways, 21 July 1857; second m. 1st Baron Hylton.
10. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.