Munich
3d June 1842
My dear Mother
They <1> arrived last night, & all pretty well having met with no particular troubles or delays – Horatia’s long silence is accounted for by the loss of her letter, for she did write one, which arrived here the 28th May, and was lying in the Post office ever since, notwithstanding my repeated applications they assured me there was nothing – You know how odious the continental post offices are, they will not allow you to examine the letters for yourself, but briefly reply there is nothing for you, & when their mistake is discovered & complained of, they coolly say, how can we be expected to read such strange handwriting & outlandish names as the English have?
Today we have cold wind & very bright sun an unwholesome combination. They are gone driving to the Pinacothéque <2>, but I was occupied with professors & could not accompany them. They are enchanted with the beauty of Achen See, Tegern See and Wildbad where they slept the night before last, being the 1st day of the season there, & with all the little wild Alpine flowers – A great contrast to the barren level plains over which my route led me. In some parts of Wirtemberg there appeared to be an absence of everything, neither grass, corn, tree or living creature, & a strong sun wasting his beams upon nothing.
Last night I went to a musical soirée at profr Martius’s <3> – his eldest daughter of 16 has a beautiful strong voice – Musical talent is inherent to all Germans I really believe –
Your affte
Henry
Haven’t I been very good in writing lately? 3 letters <4> in 5 days I have been here.
Lady E. Feilding
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
England
Notes:
1. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister, and Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
2. He means the art gallery.
3. Dr Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius (1794–1868), German botanist.
4. See Doc. No: 04525.