4th Octr 1841
Lanelay <1>
My dear Henry
I am quite pleased with your very handsome present of Calotypes, they have amused & interested me very much as well as my friends. there is one, such an admirable likeness of Sir Charles Lemon <2> that it gave me a sensation & I wish I had all my equally loved friends in the same style. Wright <3> I thought very like but not so favourable a likeness as before I think that amongst what you sent before & now that there are some good likness’s [sic] of your Italian I suppose his features are so marked that the shadows fall better – I wish you had told me about your Mother & Wife & Children, <4> tho’ I conclude all are well I shd like to know where Lily is & when expected home again –
pray give my love to Mrs Talbot & believe me
yr affe Rheumaticky Aunt
M:L: Cole
Notes:
1. Llanely, or Lanely, Glamorganshire: home of Lady Mary Cole and Mary Thereza Talbot.
2. Sir Charles Lemon (1784–1868), politician & scientist; WHFT’s uncle.
3. James Wright, footman to the Talbots & Constable for Lacock. His picture was probably Schaaf 1552, its negative being at the Getty Museum 85.XM.150.29, & its matching print at the Getty 84.XM.150.28 inscribed in ink “T. Wright”.
4. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother; Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife; Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter; Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter; Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.