May/44 <1>
Lacock Abbey
Wednesday 22d
My dear Henry
I have burnt the portrait of Mrs M, as you desired – feeling a pang all the time I was tearing it off its pretty mounting – We had a thoroughly damp day yesterday – a Scotch mist enough to wet one through – so that none of us left the house – not even Lady Elisabeth <2> – Today has made us ample amends – and it was the more fortunate since Lady Mary <3> consented to stay – & put off a tea engagement at Bristol for this evening – Lady Elisabeth & Lady Mary have been out nearly all the morning & have lopped off sundry dead branches I believe – but I don’t know exactly which, as their work went on in the breezy part of the shrubbery & I chose the sunny & sheltered parts for my promenade & the childrens. <4>
All the coughs and colds are troublesome – but certainly better today – Lady Mary prescribed Ipecacuanha powder for Charles & a confection of honey & vinegar for all of us – which I immediately prepared, as you bid me mind whatever she might say – We are so relieved by Horatia’s <5> account of dear little Charlie’s <6> improvement – & that she expects to have Caroline <7> with some degree of comfort tomorrow – I hope he will get over the attack the more easily from its being attended to in the first instance –
Lady Mary seemed so pleased to have picked you up on Sunday & carried you all about with her – I suppose she did you good as she reported that you seemed very well that day –
I am so glad you have arranged with Scheichelbaur <8> for I thought he might have dissented from the new plan.
Your affectionate
Constance
Notes:
1. Added in WHFT’s hand.
2. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
3. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Fox Strangways; (1776- 3 Feb 1855); married Thomas Mansel Talbot in 1794; married Capt Sir Christopher Cole (d. 1836) in 1815; WHFT's aunt.
4. 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.
5. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
6. Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.
7. Lady Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding (1808-1881); WHFT's half-sister; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1840–1854 & 1863–1865.
8. Mr. Scheichelbaur, a courier and travelling servant to various branches of the Talbot family in 1844 until at least 1863.