Lacock Abbey
May 31st
My dear Henry
Your letter from Frankfort received yesterday made us very happy – We had been hoping you would have written from some places between that & Calais – though to say the truth, I think you were making a better use of your time by travelling with such amazing activity – It was rather too great an exertion for you to set out as early as 6 in the morning from Ostend when you had only arrived there at midnight! You do not say how you bore this fatigue – or what change was produced in you by the act of travelling. – You left us in such a poor kind of way that we want very much to know something more perfectly of your health. – You would find a letter from me at Heidelberg – dated the 23d <1> only a few days after you set out: – and before that I had not written, having nothing to say: – Lady Elisabeth <2> has written since to Munich – and this of mine will catch you I hope before you leave – In Horatia’s <3> last dated the 18th she mentioned the 21st as being definitively fixed for their leaving Florence, <4> and the 1st of June for reaching Munich. – so I hope you will not have to wait there long, before they make their appearance. – I have nothing to say of ourselves but what is good – a mere repetition of my last account – Neesham <5> arrived on the day appointed – and my week’s acquaintance with her is quite satisfactory as far as it goes – Little Charles is perfectly well – and he enjoys himself out of doors abundantly with the others. – We have lovely weather now – very bright & sunny but not at all oppressive – Lady Elisth is going up to Sackville Street <6>on Thursday – She is looking well and is so I think, though she says she does not sleep so well at Lacock as in London. We went to Sloperton <7> yesterday & saw poor Russell. <8> – he has had a return of the bleeding of at the nose, but is better again now – he is patient & cheerful & looks no worse than is natural in such a state of weakness – Mrs Moore <9> seemed tolerably well – considering her great exertions both of body & mind – Mrs Mary Frampton <10> & Mrs Arnold were here on Saturday & enjoyed walking about the garden exceedingly. – They gave a good account of all at Moreton <11> & informed me that Harriot <12> & her party had been so delighted with Nice, that they remained there beyond the time originally intended. My letter is therefore waiting for them at Turin, & cannot be answered at present – My dear Sister continues much the same – & drives out a little whenever she feels well enough & the day is fine. –
Your affectionate
Constance
Germany
Monsieur Fox Talbot
Poste restante
à Munich
Allemagne
Notes:
1. See Doc. No: 04519.
2. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
3. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
4. She was travelling with her sister, Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
5. Mrs Neesham was engaged as nurse to Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son, who as born on 2 February.
6. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT
7. Sloperton Cottage, Wiltshire, 1 mi E of Lacock: home of Thomas Moore, the Irish poet.
8. John Russell Moore (1823-1842), died in India; the son of Thomas Moore, the poet.
9. His mother.
10. An aunt of West Awdry (1807–1892), solicitor, Chippenham.
11. Moreton, Dorset: home of the Frampton family.
12. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.