We have taken your Uncle Ilchester’s <1> judgement as well as our own, on the Turkey Carpet. We could not get one your exact dimensions but very near, & a [illegible] said to correspond.
Caroline <2> & Lord V. <3> are going to Leamington next week, she is removed from the Hôtel in Dover Street because there was an execution [sic] in the house, & is now in the Sackville Hotel <4> which is very comfortable for both parties.
Mr F. <5> says you must desire the Postman to enquire every day at Coach & Post office, to tell you if anything is arrived for you or directed to the Abbey The carpet will be there in 3 or 4 days & the Cart must be sent for it, & perhaps other things at the same time. I saw Mr Spring Rice <6> yesterday, he said he should not have time to go to either Bowood <7> or Laycock, but wd take the Meeting en passant <8> to Ireland
aff yrs
E F
Notes:
1. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.
2. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
3. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
4. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
5. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
6. Thomas Spring-Rice, 1st Baron Monteagle (1790–1866), statesman.
7. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
8. On the way.
9. William Pullen, Lacock Abbey coachman.