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Document number: 04039
Date: Sat 22 Feb 1840
Harold White: 22 Feb 1840
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: FEILDING Elisabeth Theresa, née Fox Strangways
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Last updated: 14th February 2012

Saturday

My Dear Henry

I have just seen your two footmen dressed and paraded in their new Liveries, which look extremely handsome. Everything is now settled, which except the hats, which I think should be round with Silver cords like the Duke of Devonshire’s <1> – and will order them so if you please. Louisa <2> says She would not have taken all this trouble & expense if She had been Sheriff but I told her as you are to be so bored you would go the whole hog. I am afraid William <3> is going to be ill used by the Foreign Office, partly because he is too reserved (& does not communicate in time to his friends) & partly because he is over delicate & not pushing enough for his own interests. They have given his situation in the Foreign Office to Lord Leveson, <4> & the thing he wished for (the Embassy to Turin) to Mr Abercromby, Lord Dumferline’s <5> Son, and they have offered him Francfort [sic] which it seems it would be infra dig to accept. This is the outline of the business, which has vexed Louisa so as to make her ill. Lord Holland <6> is indignant, Lord John <7> says it is unjust, but Lord Palmerston <8> is absolute in his own department. It is not quite settled yet & Harry <9> is come up to town to resign his Place and John <10> to give up the County & a Tory (a brother of William Banks [sic]<11>) to walk over the course. All this may have effect, & Lord P’s policy his colleagues must think bad to lose these Votes

Notes:

1. Sir William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire (1790–1858).

2. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.

3. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.

4. Lord Francis Leveson-Gower.

5. Ralph Abercromby, the son of James Abercromby, 1st Baron Dunfermline (1776–1858).

6. Henry Richard Vassal Fox, 3rd Lord Holland (1773–1840).

7. Lord John Russell (1792–1878), whig MP and statesman, Prime Minister from 1846 to 1852 and again from 1865 to 1866.

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

9. Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 'Harry', 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787-1858).

10. John George Charles Fox Strangways (1803–1859), MP.

11. William John Bankes (1786–1855), politician. His brother, George Bankes (1787-1856), succeeded Strangways in his Dorset parliamentary seat.