Weymouth
Tuesday –
My dear Henry
Thanks for the 2d half of the cheque. – You must come here for fine weather – we have had only sunshine throughout yesterday & again this morning till near 2 o’clock. – what are your plans when Lady Elisabeth <1> leaves for Lacock on Saturday? – Thanks for the pleasant news of Caroline <2> & her party – Is Ld Mt Edgcumbe <3> now well enough to do without any doctor? – It was reported here yesterday that the Tower of London had been set on fire & the whole of the arms &c destroyed. <4> – This can scarcely be true as you say nothing about it – and I sincerely hope that I rightly interpret your silence – for what a shocking thing it would be! –
I hope you will give me the earliest intelligence of the birth of the Prince of Wales <5> – as I shall not know it soon enough by the Papers – after you have read them in London –
Your affectionate
Constance.
Notes:
1. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
2. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
3. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
4. The fire in the Tower occurred the night of Saturday 30 October 1841 and destroyed a good many but not all of the historical arms.
5. Edward VII (1841–1910), King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British dominions and Emperor of India from 1901. Born on 9 November 1841, he was the eldest son of Queen Victoria and was created prince of Wales and Earl of Chester when he was one month old.