Lacock Abbey
Tuesday Feb 20 –
My dear Henry
I send you a letter of Horatia’s <1> to read – it contains all that I have heard since you went to London – I dare say that we shall see them back towards the middle of next week – Will you like your own room when you return or the Confessional? – I hope the visit to Mt Edgcumbe <2> (whenever they go) may prove more successful than those in Wales – How sad that Lady Elisabeth <3> should have been confined to the house nearly all the time! –
I went to Sloperton <4> on Friday & was grieved to find Mrs Moore <5> only just recovering from Influenza & Mr Moore <6> laid up with it – He had been so ill the week before that they both were alarmed thinking from the pain & soreness which he suffered that it must be inflammation – He is not much better now – & yesterday Mrs Moore sent to ask for a little Seakale for him – She is anxious for him to be able to go to London to recover his nerves which are so much affected – The fireworks <7> made no shew from our windows & not much more I believe on the spot – but the bonfire looked well & the night was favorable – & the people pleased. –
Uncle John’s Wedding cake <8> is just arrived –
All of us <9> are well – & Charles regaining his good looks rapidly. We have had some wild blowy weather since you went – but very pleasant on the whole. Mrs Moore supplied me with the 3 last numbers of Chuzzlewit <10> – also the Vicar of Wakefield. <11> – With these & Luther <12> I am deeply engaged through my solitary evenings – & in the mornings I am assisting the children in various little preparations for certain birthdays – I hope you will be at home before Matilda’s <13> – particularly as you have a set of tea things under your care – which are intended for her –
Your affectionate
Constance –
Notes:
1. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
2. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
3. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
4. Sloperton Cottage, Wiltshire, 1 mi E of Lacock: home of Thomas Moore, the Irish poet.
5. Elizabeth (Bessie) Moore, née Dyke (1783–1865), wife of the poet Thomas Moore.
6. Thomas Moore (1780–1852), Irish poet.
7. To celebrate the election of Thomas Henry Sutton Estcourt Sotheron (1801–1876), as MP for Devizes [see Doc. No: 04942].
8. John George Charles Fox Strangways (1803–1859), MP, married Amelia Marjoribanks on 19 February 1844.
9. Ela Theresa Talbot (25 Apr 1835 - 25 Apr 1893), WHFT's 1st daughter; 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; Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, née Talbot (25 Feb 1839-1927), 'Tilly', WHFT's 3rd daughter; Charles Henry Talbot, (2 Feb 1842 - 26 Dec 1916), 'Charlie'; 'Tally'; antiquary & WHFT's only son.
10. Charles Dickens, The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit (London: Chapman & Hall, 1844).
11. A novel by Oliver Goldsmith, published in 1766.
12. Possibly Merle d’Aubigne’s study of Luther [see Doc. No: 07818] as part of his History of the reformation of the sixteenth century published between 1835 and 1846.
13. 29 February.