Lacock
Sunday
My dear Henry
We arrived here very comfortably by a little after 10 – having dined at Reading – & found the Place looking this morning very clean & cheerful – Will you ask Moore <1> to give you the Key with my Name engraved on it, & then tell Franklen <2> to post make it into a longish parcel, & send it on by the Mail tomorrow night directed Angel Inn Chip. – I gave Moore 2 Keys one of the Door & the other my own key. Thinking I had one here it not worth while to separate them supposing I had another here which I now find I have not – I saw Spencer <3> this morning who gives me a bad account of Mr Paley <4> & tells me that Paley called at the Abbey the day after you went to say he was so unwell he felt it to be impossible for him to remain & wishing to know if you had any one to recommend as a Curate – I dare say he will call tomorrow to repeat all this himself – but I thought it as well to mention it at once while I was writing –
I like the look of Graphy very much, & I think he really may do for Horatia <5> – John the Groom is going, having married the Laundry Maid foolish Boy – he wrote to give warning a month since but I did not bother you about it till I had seen him & enquired as to the reason – We can easily find another when I get to Town – Yr Mother <6> & Horatia are out & have been all day enjoying the beautiful weather – It is the first Time we have seen the place all tidy without workmen –
Good bye Yr aff
CF
Notes:
1. Probably William Moore, gardener's assistant at Lacock Abbey.
2. Franklin, servant.
3. Dr Henry Spencer (1805-1842), surgeon in Chippenham.
4. Rev James Paley (1790–1863), Vicar at Lacock.
5. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
6. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.