Cowes – <1>
Wednesday September 30.
My dear Henry,
I shall be charmed to see you on Monday I am quite glad that you can make it convenient to fetch me – but why if you really cannot afford to spend even one day at Cowes should you take the trouble of crossing the water at all? My Father <2> would send a trusty servant to escort me to Southampton if you would like me to meet you there, which I should think would save both your time & convenience – as it can be no pleasure to you to cross over here by the early Steamer f which now leaves Southampton not later than ½ past eight to recross at four, which is the latest hour in the afternoon – If you wait for the Steamer which leaves Southampton at two, you would only have time to touch at Cowes, scarcely to land & without landing would be obliged to depart again instantly with me. – And I must add that there has been so much wind lately, that the Steamers have been frequently delayed; and if this were to happen on Monday you might perhaps not arrive till after Ela <3> & I were actually embarked, and how sad it would be were we to pass you on the open sea! I forgot recently what we heard about the hours of the Coaches from Wilts <4> – but it appears to me that you will be obliged at any rate to sleep at Southampton on the Sunday night if you intend coming across. When Price <5> came the other day she by the Devizes coach, she left Lacock quite early in the morning, was detained some hours at Salisbury & reached Southampton just in time for the latest Steamer. Now I would advise you to sleep at Salisbury on Sunday & meet me at Southampton on Monday. – In that case I would leave Cowes at ten in the morning which would be the best possible hour for Ela, get an hour’s shopping at Southampton & perhaps if you arrived in time we might together visit Page’s nursery garden, which I much wish to see – This appears to me to be the best arrangement under our peculiar circumstances, but better far would be your coming to Cowes on Saturday & spending Sunday all together. – I assure you that the greatest sorrow is expressed by every individual of the family, at your determination not to come for a single day and Marian <6> says she is sure you will quite forget them all, before you meet again.
I shall have a few expenses here for which I am not provided, such as washing coals & assistance in cleaning the house – so pray bring a little of the needful coin and should we not meet before I get to Southampton, my Father will hand me some & you can repay his domestic.
This is the last day of our three weeks sailing – tomorrow if weather permits, we are going to see some part of the Undercliff by land; this would have suited you & I wish much we could have engaged you for the day. – Last night we drank tea chez Lady Ogilvie <7> – such a feasting of Ladies it was! – actually ten of the fair sex with one gentleman & a youth. – Altogether the numbers rather exceeded the convenience of her Drawing room – & she favoured us with a large fire, – which might have been dispensed with, as the night was very warm. – Do send me a receipt for extracting the glass stopper from a bottle of smelling salts – As you are a chemist doubtless you will not be at a loss for one, and Marian will be very grateful for your assistance.
The papers say that the Cholera has quite ceased at Nice, can this be true? – As we shall meet soon I will not write more – but send you an affectionate embrace –
from your
Constance –
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Isle of Wight.
2. Francis Mundy (1771–1837), politician and father of Constance Talbot.
3. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
4. Wiltshire.
5. Mrs Sarah Henneman, first m Price ( ca.1811–1848), housemaid at Lacock Abbey.
6. Her sister, Marian Gilder, née Mundy (1806 – 14 October 1860); m. 6 August 1844 William Troward Gilder (d. 1871), Army Surgeon (ret).
7. Possibly Lady Sarah Ogilvy, née Morley (d. 1854).