Sunday 5 Decr
My Dear Henry
I enclose Wright’s <1> measurement & Horatia’s letter <2> from Trieste that from Venice shall go afterwards. Pray give the enclosed note to Nicole <3> & tell him to send down the commission as soon as he can.
I have been planting but not so much as I wished because the earth is so saturated with wet that as soon as they dig a hole it fills with water which would decay the roots of any thing planted, but a very few days without rain (if that happens) will correct this. The Arches at Chippenham <4> have given way from the quantity of water that has oozed thro’ – Mr Brunel <5> paid a visit of two days at Bowood <6> & since I have conversed with him I feel much less nervous, at least as far as the Great Western is concerned. I am going to Melbury <7> Thursday the 9th & intend going to see Constance <8> from thence, as she tells me she is not thinking of leaving Weymouth so soon as I expected. This house is remarkably comfortable & I enjoy being alone very much tho’ Lady Holland <9> will not believe that anybody can. If the weather was better I should be contentissima
Affly yrs
E F
Send me back Horatia’s Letter –
I hope when you return to Weymouth you will stay there long enough to give it a fair chance of doing you good
Notes:
1. James Wright, footman to the Talbots & Constable for Lacock.
2. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister. [For her letter see Doc. No: 04378].
3. Nicolaas Henneman (1813–1898), Dutch, active in England; WHFT’s valet, then assistant; photographer.
4. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
5. Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806–1859), civil engineer.
6. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
7. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.
8. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
9. Elizabeth Fox, née Vassall, Lady Holland (d. 1845).