St Leonards – <1>
May 9
My dear Henry
Thanks for the Cheque for £40· – My note to the Biscuit maker ought not to have been left lying about – but it seems I forgot to lear [sic] it up after finding that it was of no use. Lady Elisabeth <2> will think I am growing extremely untidy, since I have committed 2 offences of this kind in so short a space of time. –
I am very sorry you cannot yet send me a letter account of Ld Valletort <3> – it is indeed a sad trial for poor Caroline <4> – Do tell Lady Elisabeth that I am as much surprised as she can possibly expect at hearing that she has actually executed a piece of needlework & that I am most impatient to see it –
They tell me here at the hotel that my best way of getting into the Bath road from hence without going through London, is to cross from Bromley to Hounslow. – I had been thinking myself of leaving the Hastings road at Seven oaks but they say that it is far the best way to go as near to London as possible & just avoid entering it in the manner I have mentioned; & that this is what is always done by their Bath visitors. – I have a prejudice against stopping at Hounslow, but I think Cranford Bridge would do very well to sleep at – would it not? – & this division I suppose would be pretty equal. – I have had an excellent character of the Cook & have written to engage her. & as she is now in London she will be able to travel down to Lacock very comfortably with our other 2 servants. Will you secure 3 places for them on Wednesday morning – or will it do wher for them to take their chance? – It certainly would be most comfortable if you could, without trouble secure places, & also send word home at what place & hour the Cart should be sent to meet them – Pray think whether it will be possible to appoint horses to meet us as usual in the 2 long stages – 9 o’clock will be our starting hour each morning & ½ an hour must be allowed for dinner. – I am afraid I am asking you to take a great deal of trouble about this same journey, but you will do it or not as you please – You can’t think what a charming drive we took yesterday in the cool of the evening – We dined at 3 o’clock & staid at home till the heat of the sun was a little pass[ed] Today we are going to pursue the same pl[missing text]<5> but Laura <6> & Emily <7> have already had an excursion on the water which they said was delightful. – The picture continues to proceed well – today’s sitting was rather a short one – & the next (which is fixed for Friday) will be the concluding one I believe – in the interval it is going to be worked up at home – & Mr Forster expects that I shall be delighted with the change when he brings it again on Friday.–<8>
Your affte
Constance
H. F. Talbot Esqrs
31 Sackville Street
London
Notes:
1. Sussex, west of Hastings
2. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
3. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
4. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
5. Text torn away under seal.
6. Laura Mundy (1805–1842), WHFT’s sister-in-law.
7. Emily Mundy (1807– 5 November 1839), WHFT’s sister-in-law.
8. Almost certainly Robert Edward Forster (b. 1811) a London artist & teacher of drawing and a regular exhibitor of portraits in the Royal Academy from 1838-1855 (he went bankrupt in 1861). He was commissioned to do portraits of Ela Theresa Talbot (25 Apr 1835 - 25 Apr 1893), WHFT's 1st daughter; and 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. See Doc. No: 03673, and Doc. No: 03667.