Bowood <1>
Tuesday Morng
My Dear Henry
My sister <2> is sending a messenger with a small box for Theresa <3> which she wishes you to convey into Dorsetshire & Somehow get it transmitted to Melbury, <4> & they will take care of it for her, as they have such frequent communication. Now for my commission – I want you take [sic] the enclosed Key with your own hand & open the long drawer under my Secretaire in my room and just inside the drawer you will see a largish Key with an Ivory label on which is written Costume Chest with that Key open the said Chest which is behind the head of my bed, & the very top thing is an embroidered Shawl all over flowers, which pray give to Nicole <5> & desire him to make it up in a parcel with the things Sophia is to send by the Bearer – That done pray seal lock up the Chest Key again & send me back my own sealed up as before, because you know I could not trust that Key to any hands but yours. Pray send any Letters that may be come for me, & let me know positively when you go that I may thus write to the Postmistress at Chippenham
Yrs
EF
Notes:
1. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
2. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), wife of Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838; WHFT's aunt.
3. Mary Thereza Talbot (1795–1861), WHFT’s cousin.
4. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.
5. Nicolaas Henneman (1813–1898), Dutch, active in England; WHFT’s valet, then assistant; photographer.