Lacock Abbey.
Feb 20.
My dear Henry
I am rather displeased that you say nothing about coming home, and Lady Elisabeth <1> assures me for my comfort that she does not expect you at present and that it would be much best for you to stay in London at least another fortnight now, and afterwards come to Lacock and stay quietly till after Easter. <2> – I was obliged to confess, that I thought it appeared on the whole a wise plan, and if you determine upon it, you need not have the trouble of looking for a house at present. Mr Feilding <3> hinted the other day, that if the house in Sackville St <4> did not let easily, and they went abroad, and did not occupy it themselves, he would lend it to us. – A chance of this kind would be worth waiting for, if we could manage it, and if we are to have a carriage of our own, as you once talked of, it would not so much signify being at a distance from the House of Commons. –
Mr Feilding thought himself rather better yesterday, but today he is very much out of spirits again. – He was wheeled on a sofa into the gallery this morning for a little change, but we are very much afraid he may be the worse for it. –
One of the pots of Red berried Elder had a misfortune to be thrown down yesterday, but Fitz-Simmons <5> has carefully replaced all the scattered earth in a fresh pot & hopes the seed may flourish uninjured. I mention the circumstance not to make you unhappy but to shew how carefully I watch over their welfare. –
I suppose you will go to the party at Lansdowne House <6> on the Birthday. –pray write us an amusing account of it. – Lady Lansdowne <7> writes word that London is very disagreeable & that she regrets the country extremely. –
I enclose a letter to be franked to Harriot <8> at Moreton. <9>
Yr affecte
Constance. –
Notes:
1. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
2. See Doc. No: 02820.
3. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837) Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
4. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
5. Misspelling for Cornelius Fitzsimmons, Scottish gardener at Lacock Abbey.
6. Lansdowne House, London: home of the Marquis of Lansdowne, WHFT's uncle and cousins.
7. 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.
8. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.
9. Moreton, Dorset: home of the Frampton family.