Melbury <1>
My dear Henry
I wish you would answer my letter, I hope you will soon. yesterday was my Birthday we went to see the trees cut down and Caroline <2> and me are making little houses, in the evening we went to the drawingroom, and a had some ice, and a wafer and some iced water, we staid in the drawingroom till ten o-clock. Stavoro
Mamma <3> went with Caroline Elbelle, <4> Mrs Gynne <5> and me to Lower Melbury, and bought my doll a sash. Stavordale <6> is to be christened next wednesday, there r will be thirty four people at dinner in the saloon besi sdes several Children that do not dine there. do you think you should like to be here?
I am your affectionate H Sister
H H Maria Feilding.
1816 Sherborne, Augt twenty nine Ilchester <7>
W. H. F. Talbot Esqr
Castleford <8>
Ferrybridge
Notes:
1. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.
2. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
3. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
4. Governess to Caroline and Horatia.
5. Misspelling of Mrs Gwynne (d. winter 1841/1842), lady’s maid, cook and housekeeper to Elisabeth Feilding.
6. Henry Thomas Leopold Fox Strangways, Lord Stavordale (1816–1837), elder son of Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).
7. Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).
8. Castleford, Yorkshire, 10 mi SE of Leeds, where WHFT went to school from 1815-1816.