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Document number: 244
Date: 23 Jan 1858
Dating: based on 07516, 07527, 07539, 07572, 05648
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: EDGCUMBE William Henry
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Last updated: 22nd January 2012

Winter Villa <1>
Stonehouse
Plymouth
Jan. 23d

My dear Uncle Henry

My Father, <2> instead of dictating to you in his own name, has begged me to write & send you the enclosed – Lord Talbot <3> h is an old friend of his, & he could not therefore refuse to name the subject to you – but if it be true that you are reluctant to give the deeds – he, in ignorance of your motives can have nothing to say upon the subject – Independent however of his desire to further Lord Talbot’s wishes, he cannot help himself feeling desirous that the property in question should be administered by a protestant rather than expended upon the papistical objects to wh so much of it was devoted by its late possessor – Each day furnishes more astonishing instances of the incomprehensible advance of conversions to that faith – I do not know where you now are but will send this to my Mother <4> to forward – She is in London for the wedding festivities –

I have also been up there, & attended two entertainments at the palace – but came back here yesterday to stay with my Father during the absence of all the rest of the family.

Please give my love to Aunt Constance <5> & my cousins – who are I hope flourishing & believe me

Yr affte nephew
Valletort

Instead of sending you the letter reffering [sic] to Lord Talbot’s case, I have merely copied out the necessary part, as my Father has been requested to return the letter itself without delay –

It is from a lawyer employed by Lord Talbot – who says:

"I have discovered another form of evidence which is very important for us to get – It is a settlement, dated in 1683, on the marriage of a son of Sir John Talbot <6> of Lacock, & is, I have every reason to expect in the hands of Mr Fox Talbot of Lacock Abbey who is a descendant of Sir John’s in the female line – the son of Sir John’s daughter having taken the name of Talbot."

I must add that I know my Father would be very happy to hear that his intervention has been successful & that you have been able to assist Lord Talbot in this matter.


Notes:

1. Winter Villa, near Plymouth: estate of the Earls of Mt Edgcumbe.

2. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.

3. Henry John Chetwynd Talbot, 18th Earl Shrewsbury, 5th Baron Talbot (1803–1868), succeeded Bertram Arthur, the 17th Earl, after the latter’s death 10 August 1856. The succession was contested by James Robert Hope Scott and Lord Edmund Bernard Fitzalan Howard (by his guardian Hon Albert Henry Petre) in the Court of Chancery in January and February of 1858, and Lord Talbot’s Petition of Appeal was brought before the Committee of Privileges in the House of Lords 12 March 1858, and resolved in the summer of that year. This dates this document to 1858. [See Doc. No: 07516, Doc. No: 07527, and Doc. No: 07539].

4. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.

5. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.

6. See Doc. No: 07516 and Doc. No: 04106.

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