Clifton <1>
October 2d –
My dear Henry
I was some time in getting over my surprise at your sudden departure on Wednesday morning. – I could scarcely believe it possible, since you had said nothing about it
I want extremely to hear something about you – & also about Lady Elisabeth & Horatia. <2> – and where they are & where they are going next – I heard yesterday from Harriot <3> who mentioned that Lady Lansdowne <4> was to come home to England on the first of this month. – I thought all the Family must have been prepared for their recent loss <5> – but Harriot speaks of her Mother <6> as being greatly shocked & distressed by it – Ht says they <7> will not be able to settle at Markeaton <8> till December – so vast are the improvements – She is very sorry about their [sic] being no vacancy at Hasfield – We have a very nice house here – No 2 Caledonia place, at the end of the Mall & in view of the future Suspension bridge – The weather is so lovely now & the drives so beautiful & so numerous, that we think we shall not be able to tear ourselves away at the end of our week – but coax the Landlady to give us part of another week – and remain perhaps till Monday – Yesterday we drove to a charming spot near the mouth of the Avon & had a full view of Portshead <9> to my great surprise as I was not expecting to gaze so suddenly upon the familiar scene of last year – Today we have enjoyed ourselves on the Downs just beyond the Toll gate & nothing could be more delightfull [sic] than the weather or more beautiful than the prospect – Do you approve of our prolonging our stay these few days? – I am told Weston super Mare is very full, but becoming less so as the Season advances – I must send Price <10>over in the course of a day or two. –
We have met a little knot of Friends – Miss Censo – the Miss Pinfolds & the Miss Dashwoods – all very old & excellent friends –
your affectionate
Constance.
Notes:
1. Bristol.
2. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother and Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
3. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.
4. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), wife of Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838; WHFT's aunt.
5. The death on 1 September of Laura Mundy (1805–1842), WHFT’s sister-in-law.
6. Lady Harriet Frampton, née Fox Strangways (d. 1844) .
7. Harriot and William Mundy (1801-1877), politician, WHFT’s brother-in-law.
8. Markeaton Hall, Derbyshire, NW of Derby: home of the Mundy family.
9. That is, Portishead.
10. Mrs Sarah Henneman, first m. Price (ca.1811–1848), housemaid at Lacock Abbey.