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Document number: 4398
Date: Tue 14 Dec 1841
Dating: correct by calendar
Postmark: 14 Dec 1841
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: FEILDING Elisabeth Theresa, née Fox Strangways
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection 2: PRIVATE
Collection 2 number: FT11421
Last updated: 29th October 2017

Melbury <1>
Tuesday

Dear Henry

I am happy to see the Examiner agrees with me in opinion, he says "For stealing a Penny from a Letter the carrier is transported for life-<2> For the Exchequer bill fraud Mr Beaumont Smith is transported for life.<3> Things that are equal to the same thing are equal to each other, therefore the exchequer bill fraud & the robbery of the Penny are in the eye of the Law equal". &c &c "the lesson seems to be that they should take care to steal gold at least. A little stealing is a dangerous thing. Steal much, or filch not <4>-" &c &c A parcel is to be sent from L. Abbey directed to me in Sackville Street, <5> which pray tell Nicole to take in & alter the directions to Lady Caroline Strangways <6> Melbury Dorchester. We think this the shortest way of getting a parcel across the country, as there seems no certainty of their being conveyed from the Station at Bath to the office of the Weymouth Coach. This is a great demerit of Railways. If you happen to be coming this way you might bring it. They often ask me when you are coming here. The two Marys <7> come here from Abbotsbury <8> & Mintern next Tuesday

Affly yrs
E F

If you are not coming, ask Nicole <9> to forward that parcel the same day - & to see that it is so packed that the little duodecimos will not fall out, which perhaps Sophia may not have attended to

[The envelope for this letter is in a private collection:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
31. Sackville Street
London

Notes:

1. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.

2. See Doc. No: 04377.

3. On 4th December 1841, Beaumont Smith was condemned for forgery of Exchequer bills, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to transportation for life.

4. Parody of Pope, An Essay on Criticism, ll 215-216.

5. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.

6. Caroline Margaret Fox Strangways (1819-1895), WHFT's cousin, m Sir Edward Clarence Kerrison in 1844.

7. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776-1855), WHFT's aunt, and probably Mary Frampton (1773-1846), botanist & author. [See Doc. No: 04389].

8. Abbotsbury, Dorset: home of William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways.

9. Nicolaas Henneman (1813-1898), Dutch, active in England; WHFT's valet, then assistant; photographer.

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