London
July 16th
My Dear Henry
I heard via Belgrave Square that you had incurred a voyage of six hours instead of 3 – by putting off from one Steam boat day to another forgetting that Time & Tide Stay for no Man. You who hate Ships, must have been considerably bored. I hope my little Grandnephews were none the worse & that Mrs Groves <1> behaved in an experienced manner worthy of one who had crossed the Atlantic. It must be a great advantage to have a travelled Nurse who would probably not be helpless on any occasion. Write to me & tell me your movements. Are you botanizing on that steep hill behind Laniley? <2> What fine air up there for the children. Sir C. Lemon <3> is going to Newcastle, & takes Markeaton <4> in his way. Horatia <5> wants to go with Ly Charlotte <6> to Cadiz in the Galatea <7> nothing daunted by the Bay of Biscay! The Galatea & the Petral are both in the river, Ld Ilchester <8> if going in the latter all round Scotland. Ammandier <9> is going on Expedition to the Isle of Man – People seem very enterprising this Summer
Henry Talbot
Notes:
1. See Doc. No: 03690.
2. Misspelling of Llanely, or Lanely, Glamorganshire: home of Lady Mary Cole and Mary Thereza Talbot.
3. Sir Charles Lemon (1784–1868), politician & scientist; WHFT’s uncle.
4. Markeaton Hall, Derbyshire, NW of Derby: home of the Mundy family.
5. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
6. Lady Charlotte Talbot, née Butler (1809–1846), wife of CRM Talbot.
7. The yacht of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
8. Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).
9. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].