Monday
Dear Henry
I have sent for last Saturday’s Literary Gazette. <1> I enclose a bit I cut out because it is on a subject interesting to you. If I was Lady of the Manor as Constance <2> is, I should certainly speak to Mr J. Paley <3> to discontinue practices that are a nuisance, & unusual.
An express arrived from Wilton to say that Lady Shelburne <4> was out of danger. Dr Locock <5> was obliged to leave her but told Lady Pembroke <6> that the Country apothecary seemed to him quite equal to the exigences of the case & so it proved. He is a bold practitioner, & Dr Locock says a timid one is the worst hands one can fall into. She was in the greatest danger for 4 days. All this agitation has thrown back my Sister, <7> who was before only slowly recovering. This muggy weather disagrees with me, one cannot get any exercise The streets are so muddy & the Parks worse. The post comes in very late on account of the roads, on Saturday it was near 5 o’clock before the Salisbury post arrived at Lansdowne House. <8> Lady S[illegible] has behaved in the most inconsequente <9> manner, settling plans in the warmest & strangest manner & then next post all dans l’air <10> – very thoughtless she must be
Notes:
1. The Literary Gazette and Journal of belles lettres, science and art.
2. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
3. Rev James Paley (1790–1863), Vicar at Lacock.
4. Georgiana Fitzmaurice, née Herbert, Lady.
5. Sir Charles Locock (1799–1875), obstetric physician; first physician-accoucher to Queen Victoria, 1840. Created baronet, 1857.
6. Catherine Simonovna Herbert, née Woronzow, Lady Pembroke (1783–1856).
7. 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.
8. Lansdowne House, London: home of the Marquis of Lansdowne, WHFT's uncle and cousins.
9. Thoughtless.
10. In the air.