Spofforth <1>
Oct 26th 1830
I send you a little parcel of Seeds & bulbs, which Mr Herbert <2> has collected for you in consequence of your “botanical conversation” with him at Doncaster; I hope they may prove Acceptable & Succeed as well as you said the former did – Altho I have directed the parcel to your house in London, I conclude you are Still in the country, As you have no parliamentary duties to call you to Town at this unseasonable time of year! We are enjoying lovely weather the first we have had this year, but which has now lasted for a Month – We have been rather gay since we parted at Doncaster (where by the bye I fear your expectations were not realized) we have been Making at visits – at Mr Petres – Byrons & at Mr Milbankes <3> which was quite a new country to us, & we went last week to a January ball Given at Pontefract by Lord Grantham <4> & his officers – The Grantham & Petre ladies were there but otherwise there were no belles who you would know.
What a number of marriages the last fortnight has produced I suppose the death of poor Mr W. Anson <5> will put a stop for the present to Miss I. Foresters <6>
Pray remember me kindly to Lady Elizabeth <7> & to your sisters <8> to them Louisa <9> begs her love
Yrs Sincerely
L E D Herbert
Notes:
1. Spofforth, Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
2. William Herbert, Dean of Manchester (1778–1847), MP; clergy; botanist; linguist.
3. For Mr Petre see Doc. No: 06135; the Byrons are probably related to George Gordon Byron (1788–1824), poet, and the Milbankes to Anne Isabella (Annabella) Milbanke, Lady Byron (1792–1860).
4. Possibly Thomas Philip Robinson, 3rd Baron Grantham (1781–1859).
5. Captain William Anson, RN (1801–19 October 1830).
6. Isabella Elizabeth Annabella Weld Forester (d. 1858) married Major General George Anson (1797–1857) on 30th November 1830.
7. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
8. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister, and Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
9. Louisa Caterine Georgiana Herbert (1809-1904), eldest daughter of the writer.