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Result number 223 of 971:   < Back     Back to results list   Next >  

Document number: 4345
Date: Mon 18 Oct 1841
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: TALBOT Constance, née Mundy
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Last updated: 15th February 2012

Royal Hotel Weymouth
Monday Feb. 18.th

My dear Henry

I drove over from Abbotsbury <1> this morning in a nice little carriage of Lady Ilchester’s <2> which she is so kind as to lend me. Her brother (Mr Hall) drove me & Price accompanied me – Mr Hall knows everything about Weymouth & is now walking about with Price to introduce her to the best trades people. We found a house directly that promises to suit us well – which is fortunate, as there are few vacant at present – It is no 5. Royal Crescent. The rent 3 guineas a week for six weeks or 2 months – but 5 guineas per single week – I am to decide it at the end of the first week whether I choose to remain in it or not – There is a very nice bed room in reserve for you, when you come – & also a bed for Nicholas <3>– We shall leave Abbotsbury on Wednesday morning – which I find will suit Lady Ilchester better than her remaining till Thursday – as she expects Lord Ilchester <4> & his son & a friend or two on Wednesday, & she has already got her nieces Miss Strangways & Miss Charlotte Neave – We had a tremendous wind last night which shook us in our beds & moaned in the chimnies [sic] – I did not think that degree of uproar quite pleasant at night when sleep would have been more acceptable – but I did not feel quite so much as Bennett <5> who certainly expected the house to fall down & bury herself & the children in the ruins. – It was in vain I strove to calm her mind by assuring her there had been many worse storms through which Abbotsbury Castle had existed without sustaining any injury. – The wind has fallen considerably since morning & the drive here was most agreeable, the Sun shining brightly – & setting off Weymouth bay to the greatest advantage. The near road from Ab. To Weymth is very good & I shall come that way on Wednesday – The Servants cannot arrive till Thursday evening, but a person will prepare our beds & our dinner & tend us till they come – I shall direct this to Sackville Street <6> as Lady Elisabeth <7> desired me though I hope this bright day may have taken you on to Ramsgate or elsewhere – My love to Lady Elisabeth & thanks for her welcome letter which I found at Abbotsbury on Saturday. – I hope you are both the better now for change of air. – On Thursday & Friday we were able to take some agreeable walks – after a heavy storm on Friday – but no rain Thursday – Saturday was as wet as possible all day –

Yr affte
Constance

Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
31 Sackville Street
London

Notes:

1. Abbotsbury, Dorset: home of William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways.

2. Juliana Maria Strangways, nιe Digby (d. 1842).

3. Nicolaas Henneman (1813–1898), Dutch, active in England; WHFT’s valet, then assistant; photographer.

4. Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).

5. Bennett, nurse and governess to WHFT’s family.

6. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.

7. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, nιe Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.

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