Merthyrmawr <1>
October 12th
My dear Henry,
I wish there was some possible combination of events which would bring us together – but the fates are against it I fear. Nothing would give me such pleasure as to see you here excepting my seeing you at Lacock but alas we are again wanderers & unless anything should induce you to go to Nice I fear another year will pass without our meeting. Your children <2> will be perfect strangers to mine & I shall know nothing of my godchild. <3> Dear little Horace <4> is a very remarkable child, you will hardly see enough of him to know what he is – in many things his mind resembles yours & I have often thought of you in days long past when I am listening to him
Your affte cousin
Jane H. Nicholl
Notes:
1. Merthyr Mawr, Glamorgan, on River Ogwr.
2. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter; Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter; Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter; Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
3. Rosamond Talbot.
4. Probably Lt Horace Charles Gaisford (1851–1879), WHFT’s nephew.