7 April
My Dear Henry
I enclose you a bit from the Leipsic Gazette which shews they are pirating you in Bavaria without any acknowledgement. I am incensed at Mr. Wilmore’s <1> letter in yesterday’s literary Gazette, <2> because certainly you betrayed anything but soreness – on the contrary many people thought you did not defend your priority with sufficient strenuousness, and certainly candour and gentleman like courtesy were the great characteristics of all your communications, it rather appears that they are sore who you hindered of the patent.
But the moment any one becomes anywise a public character, they are exposed to all sorts of injustice, owing to our advanced state of civilization as a nation everybody reads & writes & talks of everything – 100 yrs ago these discoveries <3> would not have excited the same agitation.
It is snowing as hard as it can, I hope no fruit blossoms were out, to be nipped by this Weather. How very unlucky this extreme cold weather just at the time of your changement de domicile. <4> Caroline & babes <5> were to come to day but it is so very had I should hope she will be so prudent as to postpone it. The nurseries at Lord Mt. E’s <6> are dreadfully cold rooms, but still I suppose the trajet <7> would be dangerous after such illness
Notes:
1. See Doc. No: 03861.
2. The Literary Gazette and Journal of belles lettres, science and art.
3. Photogenic Drawing - see Doc. No: 03819.
4. Change of accommodation.
5. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister, William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’, and Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.
6. Richard Edgcumbe, 2nd Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe (1764–1839).
7. Journey.