Penrice <1>
Wednesday
My dear Henry,
Pray come & do not be so obstinate, come with Mr Nicholl <2> that I may see you here which I shall not do unless you come then; you may return to Clifton <3> by Steam from Swansea in a few Hours – If I could but settle a few points about some dried & some fresh Plants with you how happy I should be! Tell Aunt Lily <4> I will write to her in a day or two – Mama Sir C. Isabella & Emma <5> are gone to Carmarthen Sir C. is to lay the first stone of Sir Thos Pictons Monument <6> & they are to have very gay doings they will return on Saturday – Kit <7> is at Cowes or Southampton & I heard you were there with him but I find I was mistaken – The Galatea <8> was so much injured by the Storm she encountered in going round the Land’s End that she will not be fit for the Mediterranean this year, which to say the truth I am not sorry for, as I think October too late to set out. Kindest love to all – Do you know Mr Müller at Bristol he has a beautiful collection of Fosils [sic] he wrote the Crinoidea (I do not spell it right I am afraid). – Take care to see Ratcliff Church & Bristol Cathedral – & Kings Weston & Berkeley Castle.
Yours affly
Jane H. Nicholl
Henry Talbot Esqre
4 Mall Buildings
Clifton
Notes:
1. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
2. Dr John Nicholl (1797–1853), MP.
3. Clifton, Bristol, on the Avon Gorge.
4. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
5. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776–1855), WHFT’s aunt; Sir Christopher Cole (1770–1836), Captain, MP & naval officer; Isabella Catherine Franklen, née Talbot (1804–1874); Emma Thomasina Llewelyn, née Talbot (1806–1881), photographer, WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
6. Sir Thomas Picton (1758–1815), lieutenant-general, distinguished in the Peninsular Wars. The monument was built by Daniel Mainwaring, sculpted by Edward Hodges Baily.
7. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
8. Christopher Talbot’s yacht.