February 25.
My dear Henry
Did you ever hear the tradition that Sir Stephen Fox was Page to Charles 1st<1> & attended him at his execution? – Please to find time from you Philosophical &c &c pursuits to reply to this Family-historical Query. – The reason I ask is because Jesse in his Memoirs of George 3d, just published,<2> says in speaking of the Fox Family that the late Lady Holland<3> used to mention as a remarkable Fact that tho’ nearly two Centuries had elapsed since the death of Chas I there was still living [in the person of Ld Ilchester]<4> a great grandson of the Page who was with him at the Scaffold. – I have asked Charlotte Traherne<5> but she never heard of this – so now I want to know if your Mother<6> ever mentioned such an anecdote – It is quite new to me – and alas! now Uncle William<7> is gone there is not one of that generation left! – Ld Lansdowne<8> might have assisted us, from his intimacy & connection with Holland He & its inmates but that too is past. Mr Mundy<9> is wanting to write to Constance<10> but has been so very full of County business lately, that as I am writing to you he will postpone his letter – particularly as nothing more has transpired relative to the special subject of her letter. Noel & Emily<11> are at Weymouth after paying a very pleasant visit at Melbury. They had been over to Moreton for the afternoon & send me a more comforting report of poor Henry<12> who seems now really on the right track tho’ he still has gout & is perfectly immoveable.
I am afraid you will find Paris ruinously dear, tho’ I shall envy your seeing the Exposition<13> – A Frenchman – husband of a friend of mine was charged – even in Jany 14 francs for a plate of Soup a little bit of game & salad – & a bottle of wine 2.50! – What then will they not charge an Englishman? – I hope you have nearly finished all the wonderful –– I forget what Rosamond<14> told me to call them (Photogh Engravings)<15> You are to exhibit & are satisfied with your success. A Gentlemen who saw those you gave us – exclaimed that now he shd not despair of being able to Fly! – apparently a great object of his ambition. Will you turn your attention next to accomplishing this please.
I trust Matilda & the wee Grand Daughter<16> are progressing perfectly. Mrs J. Nicholl has also a Girl her 4th child.<17>
Yr affte Cos
H G Mundy
Love to all –
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot, Esqr
13 Great Stuart Street
Edinburgh
Notes:
1. Rt Hon Sir Stephen Fox (1627-1718). Charles I (1600-1649), 2nd son of James VI of Scots and I of England. He was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 1625 until his execution.
2. John Heneage Jesse, Memoirs of the Life and Reign of King George the Third (London: Tinsley Bros, 1867).
3. Hon Caroline Fox (d. 1845).
4. Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787-1858).
5. Charlotte Louisa Mansel Traherne, née Talbot, 'Charry' (1800-1880), WHFT's cousin.
6. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m. Talbot (1773 - 12 March 1846), WHFT's mother.
7. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795-1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat; WHFT's favourite uncle.
8. Henry Fitzmaurice, 4th Marquess of Lansdowne (1816-1866), Baron Wycombe, MP; WHFT's cousin.
9. Her husband, William Mundy (1801-1877), politician, WHFT's brother-in-law.
10. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (30 Jan 1811 - 9 Sep 1880), WHFT's wife.
11. Francis Noel Mundy (1833-1903), WHFT's nephew, and his wife Emily Maria Georgiana, née Cavendish (1845-1929).
12. Henry Frampton (1804-1879).
13. l’Exposition Universelle de Paris, held April-October 1867. WHFT attended right at the end - see Doc. No: 09258.
14. Rosamond Constance Talbot (16 Mar 1837 - 7 May 1906), 'Rose'; 'Monie'; artist & WHFT's 2nd daughter; died & buried at San Remo, Italy, with a memorial at Lacock;.
15. Photoglyphic Engravings, WHFT's second major photogravure process, with which he had made significant advances recently.
16. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, née Talbot (25 Feb 1839-1927), 'Tilly', WHFT's 3rd daughter and Constance (b. 1863, m. Stewart), ‘Connie’.
17. The 4th child of Mary de la Beche Nicholl, née Dillwyn (d 1922), wife of John Cole Nicholl (1823-1894), the eldest of the ten or so children of Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot( 1796-1874), WHFT's cousin.