Queen Anne Street <1>
November 27
My dear Henry
My Sisters <2> are very anxious not to spare me before Monday at soonest because as they truly observe it is but a shabby week from Saturday to Saturday on account of the whole of those days being taken up in Travelling.
My Brother <3> came up from Markeaton <4> yesterday & returns again on Sat – & the Sisters say they shall not like to part with both him & me on the same day. – I have asked my Brother to buy some weights for letters if he has the opportunity in his morning’s walk – but if he does notper chance, I will send Nicole <5> tomorrow. I have got ‘England’ <6> as you desired, & I have no doubt of its being amusing from its looks; but the time permitteth not of our perusing it as this moment, for we have so much to say & to hear of many things that we are obliged to make the most of each instant as it flies. – I saw Caroline <7> on Sunday & heard with sorrow that little Charles <8> had occasioned her much uneasiness; & though better, she had put off her journey for a few days Lady Landsdowne’s <9> prediction was indeed verified that they would make him ill by over feeding him & unluckily her remonstrance came just too late. I have not heard today, but the account yesterday was very favorable & encouraging – so I trust all will be well. Laura & I walked out both Monday & yesterday accompanied by Ela. <10>– but today is far from fine – thick fog, succeeded by rain, so that we are kept prisoners. – I should like very much to see M. Daguerre’s pictures, <11> but the Lowther arcade is rather far for a walk, unless the weather should again be fine – I would not have written to fix about coming back till after tomorrow, (when my Brother will have an interview with Mr Travers & something will be decided about the time of their moving.) had I not thought you would be expecting to hear – They hope the middle of next week may be the extent of their time here, but should they be detained much beyond, this, & beg very hard for another day of my company, should you feel inclined to spare me?–
Nicole has just brought me a good account of Caroline’s baby & a message from her that she will call to take me out tomorrow, so perhaps I shall then be able to get to the Adelaide Gallery. <12>–
Why was not the party to Bowood <13> not put off till Caroline visit there? then you would not have been left alone –
Your affectionate
Constance.
I hope you will mention Rosamond & Matilda <14> when you write again. – Ela is very well & good & happy.
H.F. Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. 44 Queen Ann Street: London home of the Mundy family and a frequent base for WHFT.
2. Laura Mundy (1805–1842); Marian Gilder, née Mundy (1806 – 14 October 1860); m. 6 August 1844 William Troward Gilder (d. 1871), Army Surgeon (ret).; WHFT’s sisters-in-law.
3. William Mundy (1801-1877), politician, WHFT’s brother-in-law.
4. Markeaton Hall, Derbyshire, NW of Derby: home of the Mundy family.
5. Nicolaas Henneman (1813–1898), Dutch, active in England; WHFT’s valet, then assistant; photographer.
6. Patrick Fraser Tytler, England under the Reigns of Edward VI. and Mary, with the Contemporary History of Europe, illustrated in a Series of Original Letters never before Printed, &c (London: 1839) 2 vols. (See Doc. No: 03974).
7. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
8. Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.
9. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), wife of Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838; WHFT's aunt.
10. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
11. Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre (1787–1851), French artist, showman & inventor.
12. In September and October of 1839, M. de Ste. Croix exhibited specimens of the daguerreotype at Adelaide Gallery.
13. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
14. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter, and Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.