Moreton <1>
March 26My dear HenryThe prosperity of dear Constance <2> delights us more than we can express & the fact mentioned by Laura <3> of her being likely to prove a good Nurse makes me very envious – Nevertheless I rejoice most exceedingly thereat knowing the pleasure it will give her – I am commissioned by my mother <4> (who you know takes all the Longespée family under her special protection) to say that she doth by no means approve of the name of “Olive” which I told her was I believed thought of for your second daughter. She does not think it at all pretty (in which however I differ from her) and that moreover it is not nearly so old as many others – For instance Ida, Idonea (which is quite a separate name) Isabel &c &c All these are very pretty but if you do not approve of them why not call it by the lovely name of Rosamond? If the only English Pope <5> is Godfather to my son, <6> why should not poor Fair Rosamond Clifford <7> be Godmother to your Daughter? –
Will you let us know when Aunt Lily <8> &c are likely to be in London as my mother has never had an answer to her last letter she does not know where to direct –.
We have been a sad invalidish set but I hope change of air to Weymouth which we are going to try next week will improve us. My mother is now confined upstairs with a cold – She has never been at all well since her illness in the Autumn & I shall grow uneasy about her if she does not mend soon – My father <9>too has had a very bad cough and cold & indeed all the household have been ailing more or less. –
Mr Mundy <10> is very much obliged to you for complying with his wishes – & with our kindest love to Constance Believe me
Yr afft Cousin
H G My
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
65 Harley Street
London
Notes:
1. Moreton, Dorset: home of the Frampton family.
2. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife had recently given birth to Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.
3. Laura Mundy (1805–1842), WHFT’s sister-in-law.
4. Lady Harriet Frampton, née Fox Strangways (d. 1844). William Longespee, Prince of England (1173–1225).
5. Cardinal Nicholas Breakspear, born near St. Albans, Hertfordshire, became Pope Adrian IV on 4 December 1154. He died in 1159. One of his most controversial acts was to allow King Henry II to annex Ireland.
6. Her second son, Adrian William Mundy, who was to die an infant at Brighton on 14 September 1837.
7. Rosamond Clifford (1133–1176), mistress of King Henry II. She lived in the royal palace of Woodstock, Oxfordshire, which the king refurbished specially for her, but was mysteriously murdered.
8. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
9. James Frampton (1769–1855), High Sheriff.
10. William Mundy (1801-1877), politician, WHFT’s brother-in-law.