London
14th Decr 1832
Dear Mr F.
I think we shall come to Lacock on the 27th and I hope to find you all assembled there, for at this time of year we should not find the Abbey an agreeable residence by ourselves, it is too large & too cold. I mean it looks so.
Pray tell Horatia <1> of my Chairing <2> on Wednesday, a multitude met me at the outskirts of the town, took the horse from my chaise & drew me in. The ceremony of chairing lasted an hour, on the bridge we met Lord Lansdowne <3> riding, who at first looked astonished & half dismayed, as if he thought it a sudden uproar or insurrection; but on recognising the chair, & me in it, he saluted me graciously & the people cheered him. I heard them saying to each other, tis the Marquis, he’s a good Marquis. The ladies of Chippenham <4> waved their handkerchiefs from the windows, & we had universal applause – I did not hear any dissentients – When we returned to the Angel <5> I addressed the multitude from the inn window; they were as still & silent as possible, which was rather embarrassing. –
Afterwards my friends the Electors came and drank a glass of wine with me at the inn, & then I returned home. – It was then quite dark – The Lacock people met me the other Chippenham side of Notton, <6> & wanted to take off my horses there, but I persuaded them it was too far, & to wait till we get <sic> to the turnpike: which was done, & then they drove home accompanied by a great multitude, whom I addressed from the top of the steps by the hall door, thanking them & recommending them to drink my health before they went to their homes, which they were sure to be very willing to do, so they went to the publichouses and drank about four guineas worth of ale, or spirits (the farmers choosing the latter) and then they went home quite content. I have not time to answer Horatia’s kind letter today so please to show her this.
Yours very afftly
Henry Talbot
Capt. Feilding R.N.
Melbury <7>
Dorchester
Dorset
Notes:
1. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
2. See Doc. No: 02494.
3. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.
4. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
5. Angel Inn, Chippenham.
6. Hamlet, 1 mi NW of Lacock and within the parish.
7. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.