Lacock Abbey
Thursday 18th
My dear Henry
I wrote you a little letter yesterday – but as I was rather late for the post, perhaps you will receive it with this – I have touched over the specks in the Ariadne which you mentioned and a few others near the top on the right hand corner which were apparent on some, but not all the copies. This puzzles me – I cannot understand why the copies differ – I am quite glad you have such fine weather in London – here we find it rather dark – today particularly so – with rain. – Caroline <1> has made a bad exchange by putting off her journey till today. – Horatia <2> drove with her to the Station in Lady Elisabeth’s <3> new carriage – Mary Fitzmaurice <4> is expected at Bowood <5> tomorrow without her Mother <6> & Lady Lansdowne <7> has sent an invitation in her name to our Children <8> for dinner on Saturday – Ela was quite in an extasy of delight on reading the letter. Of course an acceptance was written without delay – Lady Elisabeth & Horatia are also to lunch there the same day – And with Lady Lansdowne’s horses <&> Lady Elisabeth’s little carriage, we expect to get there [with]out difficulty or expense – Only think how [di]ssipated we are become in your absence. We are all engaged to dine with the Sotherons <9> tomorrow, to meet Mr Watson Taylor <10> & Lady Charlotte, Lord Shelburne <11> &c &c –
We are grieved by your accounts from Malta – Lady Elisth also had a letter a few days since from Mr Talbot <12> himself by which he appears to be in very low spirits & ill as well as Lady Charlotte. <13> – I forward today a letter for you –
Your affectionate
Constance
I suppose you know that poor Lady Harriet Galwey <14> is released at last from her long sufferings –
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
31 Sackville Street
London
Notes:
1. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
2. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
3. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
4. Lady Mary Caroline Fitzmaurice (1835–1927).
5. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
6. Lady Augustus Lavinia Priscilla Fitzmaurice, née Ponsonby (1814–1904).
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. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter, Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter, Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter and Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
9. Thomas Henry Sutton Sotheron Bucknall Estcourt (1801–1876), MP; and his wife, Lucy Sarah (d. 1870), daughter of Admiral Frank Sotheran.
10. Simon Watson Taylor, MP; sat for Devizes 1857–1859.
11. Sir Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, Lord Shelburne, 4th Marquess of Lansdowne (1816–1866), MP and WHFT's cousin.
12. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
13. Lady Charlotte Mansel Talbot, née Butler (d. 1846).
14. Lady Harriet Payne Gallwey (1784-1845), née Quin, widow of Lt Gen Sir William Payne Gallwey, 1st Bart (1759-1831).