Wednesday
My Dear Henry
After all you might have staid longer, for Constance <1> was gone for two days to Bath. We missed you sadly at your accustomed hour yesterday & felt as if you ought to be sitting there reading the Globe <2>. Don’t fail to send me word of the breadth of the Space between the piers in your Library. Likewise I want the measurement of the length of the 3 fenders, I took them myself, but should like to have it certified. They are your library, Your bed room & the library. The fender should extend at least 2 inches on the marble plinth on each side
I find from Horatia <3> that she paid ¾ for her Literary Gazette, <4> I am afraid Constance did the same. You & Caroline <5> both assured me they always went free, Hor<atia> <6> says it was because hers was unstamped, but I thought every one of them was obligd to be stamped. I do not understand it. Horatia is at Melbury <7> Theresa <8> has had a bad fall from her horse, but having immediately put on Leeches, she is better. She fell upon her head. I am rather glad Frith is not to stay above six weeks, she is too commonplace a body to suit Guglielmino <9>
Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
Laycock abbey
Chippenham
Wilts
Notes:
1. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
2. The Globe (London).
3. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
4. The Literary Gazette and Journal of belles lettres, science and art.
5. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
6. Text missing.
7. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.
8. Probably Lady Theresa Fox Strangways, elder daughter of the 3rd Earl of Ilchester, June 1837.
9. Italian for ‘little William’.