Melbury <1>
Sunday
My Dear Henry
I am quite surprized to hear you are in London So little did I think it that I had ordered Valle<tort> <2> to have your room – Pray write to me by return of post to say how he is, & whether he has prospered so far on his journey, I am quite nervous at having any thing to do with it, poor child he is now launched on the wide world. My Brother <3> has taken a good deal of trouble about his Passport because the Office opens so late he would otherwise be detained great part <sic> of Tuesday in town waiting for it, & as he would not know what to do with himself it would be most undesirable Your Uncle seemed sorry to hear you did not come till the 22d – but hopes you will make up for it by staying longer after Xmas –
Yrs affly
E F.
Tell Nicole <4> to enclose me in a Letter by return of post three dozen Stamps
Notes:
1. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.
2. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
3. Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).
4. Nicolaas Henneman (1813–1898), Dutch, active in England; WHFT’s valet, then assistant; photographer.