13 Great Stuart Street Edinburgh
30 Avril, 1865
Mon cher Mr Talbot:
Vous avez bien jugé de la profonde sensation d’horreur que nous causeraient ces horribles assassinats en Amérique! Ce pauvre Président, <1> il a payé pour tous les méfaits de son parti; et les coups ne pouvaient tomber sur une tête qui fut moins coupable des excès commis pendant cette cruelle guerre; car il parait qu’il était humain, conciliant et que même ses dernières paroles portaient l’empreinte des plus généreuses dispositions envers ses ennemis vaincus. – nous attendrons avec anxiété les nouvelles d’ici à huit ou dix jours, car on peut s’attendre à tout de la part d’un peuple aussi excitable qu’est le peuple américain; surtout si le South s’obstine à la résistance et rejète les voix de paix et de conciliation. Il faut esperer qu’il (le South) ne donnera pas asile à ces infâmes assassins, autrement ce serait assumer toute la responsabilité du crime et fermerait la porte à toute arrangement.
N’êtes vous pas un peu surpris du départ de Dédinguet pour l’Algérie? au dépit des très pressantes sollicitations de ses amis qui à ce qu’il parait, ont si peu de foi dans la stabilité de la Dynastie qu’ils tremblent rien qu’à le voir s’éloigner un moment du centre de son pouvoir… tout cela est je crois un fragile édifice bâti sur le sable, sont plus cependant les bayonètes solides et encore cela ne leur suffit pas!
Que de malheurs ont eu lieu en si peu de jours: dabord la mort de ce jeune héritier de Russie, au moment presque d’épouser cette charmante Princesse Dagmar. <2> Cette famille si grande; au comble des prospérités humaines et cependant courbant la tête sous le poids de l’infortune commune à tous! Ce sont de grands examples. ––
Vous avez vu aussi l’assassinat commis à l’Ambassade de Russie à Paris, sur un des attachés par un officier Russe?..à Londres un maniac a eu aussi une velléité d’assassin et sur la personne de ce bon vieux Mr Van de Veyer mais heureusement il ne l’a pas même blessé! En voilà bien je pense assez pour satisfaire les plus affamés lecteurs de ces sortes de choses dans les journaux; mais j’oubliais the Road Murder! il y a bon nombre de personnes que refusent de croire à la criminalité de Constance Kent <3>, qu’en pensez-vous? La croyez-vous une victime volontaire s’offrant en Expiation du crime d’un père, cédant aux persuasions d l influences religieuses?–
Nous sommes fort envieux de votre temps à Lacock, car bien qu’il[illegible] soit très beau ici, le fond de l’air est froid et le vent d’Est.
Nous avons reçu un bon hamper de légumes avec quelques jolies fleurs, mêmes des roses que le voyage avait un peu endommagées
Mme Talbot et Ela se disposent à aller mettre fin à votre solitude, dans une dizaine de jours environ; c’est à dire le 9 Mai.
Adieu, mon cher Mr Talbot
Votre bien affectionnée
Amélina
Mme Talbot me charge de vous dire qu’elle a reçu votre lettre de laquelle elle vous remercie.
Translation:
13 Great Stuart Street Edinburgh
30 April 1865
My dear Mr Talbot:
You judged well the profound sensation of horror which these horrible assassinations in America would cause us! This poor President, he has paid for all the misdemeanours of his party; and the blows could not have fallen on a head less guilty of the excesses committed during this cruel war; for it seems that he was humane, conciliatory and that even his last words carried the trace of the most generous disposition towards his vanquished enemies. – we shall await with anxiety the news in eight to ten days, for one can expect anything from a people as excitable as the American people; especially if the South persists in resisting and rejects the voices of peace and of reconciliation. We must hope that they (the South) will not grant asylum to these despicable assassins, otherwise they would be taking on all responsibility for the crime and closing the door to any agreement.
Are you not a little surprised by the departure of Dédinguet for Algeria? Despite the very pressing appeals from his friends who, it seems, have so little faith in the stability of the Dynasty that they tremble to see him leave the centre of his power but for a moment… all of that is, I believe, a fragile edifice built on sand, but the bayonets are stronger and it is not enough for them yet!
So many misfortunes have taken place in so few days: first the death of this young heir of Russia , just as he was almost about to marry this charming Princess Dagmar. Such a large family at the height of human prosperity and yet bowing its head under the weight of misfortune common to all! These are great examples. –
You have also seen the assassination carried out at the Russian Embassy in Paris, on one of the attachés by a Russian officer?… in London a maniac also made a vague assassination attempt on the person of the good old Mr Van de Meyer but fortunately he did not even injure him! This is enough I think to satisfy the most hungry readers of such things in the newspapers; but I was forgetting the Road Murder! There are a good many people who refuse to believe in the crime of Constance Kent, what do you think of it? Do you believe her a willing victim offering herself up for the expiation of the crime of a father, yielding to the persuasion of religious influences? –
We are most envious of your weather in Lacock, for although it is very fine here, the air is cold and the wind from the East.
We have received a good hamper of vegetables with some pretty flowers, even roses which the journey had damaged a little.
Mrs Talbot and Ela are about to put an end to your solitude, in about ten days; that is to say on May 9th.
Farewell, my dear Mr Talbot
Your most affectionate
Amélina
I have not received a line from Caroline and do not know whether she is in town.
Mrs Talbot asks me to tell you that she has received your letter for which she thanks you.
[envelope:]
H. Fox Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. On 14 April, Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), was shot and killed by John Wilkes Booth.
2. Grand Duke Nicholas (1843–1865) died shortly before his wedding to the Princess Dagmar of Denmark (1847–1928).
3. Road (now Rode) was a small parish between Trowbridge and Frome, about 10 mi SW of Lacock. Constance Emily Kent, later Ruth Emilie Kaye (1844-1944), was the daughter of Samual Savill Kent, a factory inspector. On the night of 29 June 1860, the body of 4 year old Francis Savill Kent was discovered in the outhouse, with his throat slit. At first the nursemaid was suspect, but soon Francis's 16 year old half-sister Constance was identified as the perpetrator of this hideous crime. A magistrate found her innocent and she was soon made into a heroine; Scotland Yard's Detective Jonathon Whicher, who had charged her, was dismissed from the force. Five years later, Constance confessed to a clergyman, saying the crime was taken in revenge against her step-mother. She was tried and sentenced to death, but this was commuted to 20 years in prison. She afterwards moved to Australia. Suspicions remain that she was actually protecting her brother, William Savill Kent, who either acted alone or in concert with her.