Laycock Abbey
25th February 1842
My Dear Henry
I cannot describe to you how excessively pretty Matilda <1> looks to day con una corona di fiori, <2> a chaplet of Laurustinus & snow drops, in honor of her Birthday.
I enclose a scrap for your inspection by which it appears to me that the Author has never seen any good calotypes <3> but probably some only that have been done by bunglers. Je mettrai ordre a tout cela <4> if I were you. I hope you have written to Florence to tell them of the child’s name, it is a pity to withhold what would give so much pleasure. When Constance <5> mentioned it to me we were both so nervous that I did not clearly understand what she said about other names to be added, but I think you ought to give some surname for a distinction, there are so many Talbots about the world. Lord Talbot <6> has six sons, & by the time your little boy <7> is grown up all the six may perhaps have as many more, not to mention the Shrewsbury <8> branch, & the Talbots of Malahide. Your surname of Fox has certainly been of use to distinguish you & the name has every probability of being extremely multiplied in the age in which this little one will flourish. There is likewise the Margam <9> offsets to be guarded against.
By a letter Constance received this morning from Horatia <10> she depends on your going for her, which she considers a promise, and I suppose she has no other prospect as they seem to have formed no plans.
I say nothing about the Babe & his nurses, as Constance says she is going to write to you later in the day
Affly yrs
E F
Notes:
1. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
2. A crown of flowers.
3. Not present, and the article has yet to be identified from this sparse information.
4. I’d put all that right.
5. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
6. Probably Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, 2nd Earl Talbot (1777–1849).
7. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
8. Related to John Talbot, 16th Earl Shrewsbury (1791–1852).
9. Margam Park, Glamorgan: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
10. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.