You left me with no particular charge about writing to you dear Henry – but I doubt not that you will wish for some account of us from time to time. – I will say nothing on the subject which almost wholly occupies my thoughts, except that I am constantly praying for you all, that you may be supported under your heavy trial – Your letters are a great comfort to me, especially when they contain tolerable accounts [illegible deletion] of yourself & the rest of the party. – Pray thank Mlle Amelina <1> for so kindly writing to me the day after you left home. – it was very good of her to make such an exertion for my sake – I look anxiously for letters every morning – & if nothing arrives, as was the case today, I feel certain that you have nothing fresh to tell me – I earnestly pray that this state of things may not continue long –
I had a very agreeable letter from Harriot <2> & Laura <3> a few days since written at Havre where they were resting themselves after a fatiguing journey from Caen the preceding day – Ere this they are returned to Brighton having made a tour of precisely ten days – commencing on Saturday the 19th & ending Monday the 28th They spent two days at Rouen & were delighted with everything they saw there They admired the banks of the Seine from Rouen to Honfleur; – & from the latter place they proceeded by land to Caen. There they chiefly admired the Church of St Etienne founded by William the Conqueror & also that founded by his Queen Matilda <4> – It is a pity the Trio did not give themselves a little more time whereby to extend their tour – but I think they contrived to see a great deal in so short a space – & they certainly appear to have enjoyed it as much as it was possible to do – They found nothing to complain of excepting the heat – Perhaps this present change to cool weather revives them after their exertions – for my own part I am sorry & somewhat ashamed to confess that I have been grumbling at the change & wrapping myself up in all kinds of warm clothing – Our dear children <5> are quite well. – & Ela enjoys her rides on Cousin Louisa’s <6> Donkey – It is a good tempered quiet creature & does not kick like the last – Ela dined with me yesterday, upon the occasion of a roast Chicken – She often talks about her Papa –
Your affectionate
Constance
Saturday Septr 2d
I have sowed the seed which you desired –Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
at the Marquis of Lansdowne’s <7>
Richmond
Surrey
Notes:
1. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
2. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.
3. Laura Mundy (1805–1842), WHFT’s sister-in-law.
4. The church dates from the 1060s and is a fine specimen of Norman Romanesque. William the Conqueror’s tomb is in front of Saint-Étienne’s high altar, and the tomb of his wife, Matilda, stands in La Trinité’s choir. William’s remains were thrown out during the French Revolution.
5. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter, and Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.
6. Louisa Howard, née Fitzmaurice (d. 1906), daughter of Lady Louisa Emma Fitzmaurice.
7. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.