Melbury ^<1>

My dear Henry.

I am in entire ignorance as to the day of the Dissolution, though I suppose it is to be soon (today the Papers say) & also of the Day fixed for the Election at Chippenham ^<2> – Your Mother ^<3> says my being at Lacock on Thursday will do perfectly on that Day therefore expect us – If it is later than you would have wished it is owing to the want of that useful article matter of Fact, in your mothers letter – if she had simply said – Parliament will be dissolved such a day – Henry goes such a day & the election is fixed for such another day – & wants you before – I should have been better able to judge for myself what to do, as it is I obey the only thing positive in her letter by going to L. on Thursday is the hope of doing what you wish – I have written to her to propose a scheme, which will give great Pleasure if adopted to Car. & Hor ^<4> both, which is that you & Hor. & I should go up together in the Britchka ^<5> after the election paying 1/3 each – & that we 2 should return in the Chariot ^<6> with your Mother, after the Xtening, ^<7> or if that & the election clash, after the 2 sisters have passed 4 or 5 days together. it would also have the advantage of accelerating our making the acquaintances with Constance ^<8> &c. in short I think it a good Plan, & see no difficulty – & the expence not great as Sackville S^{t <9>} w^d hold us very well, & we sh^d return for nothing –

Y^r aff
C. F.

Tell Delorme ^<10> we shall be at Lacock to Dinner Thursday but that the servants will not be at House keeping & if you know the day of election you can also tell him the day we shall leave to enable him to make his arrangements, the day after I suppose unless you have a Dinner at Chippenham or something to keep you a couple of Days more – This of course you will know – I anticipate no objection to my London scheme on the part of your Mother – if you write to ask her what she thinks of it you will know before we meet whether she accedes or not –

God bless you
Y^r aff
C.F.

Monday–

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Notes:

1. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.

2. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.

3. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.

4. 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.

5. He means ‘britska’, an open four-wheeled carriage with one seat.

6. Light four-wheeled carriage with back seats and box.

7. The christening of William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4^th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’. [See Doc. No: 02503].

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

9. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.

10. Cook.