Laycock Abbey
Monday
My Dear Henry
You have not deigned an Answer, & my letter was so long ago I suppose you have forgot it. Caroline <1> says she was very snug with you in London all her grand intentions of thinning all your Woods & Plantations ended in cutting 3 branches of an Alaturnus! Harriet Galwey <2> & daughter have been here since Friday last – She has not stirred from le coin du feu, <3> being distracted with the Tootheache [sic], she is going tomorrow to a Dentist at Bath to see what can be done for it.
We have had some high winds, many branches blown off but no trees
Affly yrs
E F
I have been filling up the other two Stew ponds left undone last Spring you will gain some good grass by it, & the place some wholsome [sic] ground instead of swamps infested with toads & snakes. I wish it was not such a costly pleasure. That great Oak stands out now, & looks superb. You have not answered anything about Dr Buckland <4>
Affly Yrs
EF
I don’t mean that Lord L. <5> required an answer
Notes:
1. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
2. Lady Harriet Payne Gallwey (1784-1845), née Quin, widow of Lt Gen Sir William Payne Gallwey (1759-1831), 1st Bart.
3. The fireside.
4. William Buckland (1784–1856), Dean of Westminster & scientist.
5. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.