Talbot Correspondence Project: FEILDING Elisabeth Theresa, née Fox Strangways to TALBOT William Henry Fox

Laycock Abbey

1^st January 1837!

Salve Henrice! ^<1>

Precor vobis felicem annum. ^<2> The Strangways vein is certainly as you say prevalent in every ramification of the family. I have repeatedly asked when the Penrice ^<3> party thought of coming this way, but tho’ they answer the letters they never answer the question. The weather is odious, even I never go out, at least I have not for the last five days. But the inside of the house is not cold considering the state of the atmosphere. Every fire & every stove are lit, & it is not a bit colder than other houses. But the clouds look big with more snow, & I guess we have a good deal more to go through yet. Caroline ^<4> takes advantage of the Bouche de Chaleur ^<5> under the Diningroom & is making an elaborate drawing of Sir William Sherington’s ^<6> room. They go to Wilton the 7^th to visit Lady Pembroke ^<7> I will desire her to let you know when they proceed to Melbury, ^<8> in case you think of meeting them there. L^d Ilchester ^<9> will be at home till the 29^th when he goes to Southampton to visit the Petrel in his way to the meeting of Parliament. Tomorrow Henry Fitzmaurice ^<10> comes of age, but there will be nothing done as Lady Kerry ^<11> is still at Bowood ^<12> and still in a state of the deepest affliction

aff^ly y^rs

I wrote to you since I came home

Henry Fox Talbot Esq^r
Sidmouth
Devonshire

Notes:

1. Conventional Latin salutation, ‘Hail Henry!’, that is ‘be well!’. Could be translated ‘how are you?’ or ‘I hope you are well’.

2. I wish you a happy year.

3. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.

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

5. Hot air vent.

6. Sir William Sherington or Sharington (1495–1553).

7. Catherine Simonovna Herbert, née Woronzow, Lady Pembroke (1783–1856).

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

9. Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).

10. Henry Fitzmaurice, Lord Shelburne, 4th Marquess of Lansdowne (1816–1866), MP.

11. Lady Augusta Lavinia Priscilla Fitzmaurice, née Ponsonby, Lady Kerry (1814–1904). The affliction was probably caused by the death of her husband William Thomas Fitzmaurice, Earl of Kerry. [See Doc. No: 03359].

12. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.