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Document number: 3233
Date: Sun 27 Mar 1836
Dating: death of Sarah Mundy
Postmark: 27 Mar 1836
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: TALBOT Constance, née Mundy
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Last updated: 16th November 2016

Sunday March 27. –

My dear Henry

Your letter <1> yesterday was very welcome indeed though you wrote it as if perfectly unconscious that I could have expected it many days sooner – The basket arrived quite safe & was delivered at my lodgings early in the morning before I opened your letter – therefore I dare say that it reached Southampton on Friday evening as you said it ought to do – The heads of brocoli [sic] are considered to be magnificent, & the numerous bunches were of violets are deliciously sweet, & do infinite credit to the patience & perseverance of the person or persons who gathered them. – The next supply, please to say, must be directed to Belle vue house, as I have given up my lodgings & am comfortably established in the house – It made both my Father <2> & Sisters <3> uneasy that I should walk home at night during this very tempestuous weather, without absolute necessity – therefore Ela <4> & her Nurses have been moved into the vacant room & I & my Maid are in the others. – I am sure you will be glad to think that I am snugly housed, though I really did find my lodgings very comfortable. – I was obliged to have the fly <5> 2 nights & one morning & again yesterday to remove my goods –

Your week at Lacock will expire tomorrow – shall you move or prolong your stay there? – Your account of being only tolerably comfortable does not sound quite nice & I shall feel rather glad therefore when you leave – but it is quite incorrect to go to London during the week before Easter! –

Since I wrote last I have been talking to Nurse <6> about her future plans – & telling her of your proposal to advertise for her a situation for her, & she seems very grateful indeed. – A plain cook in a small family with about 12 guineas wages, is what she thinks she is best qualified for – Of course it would not matter whether it were a gentleman’s family or respectable tradesman’s – or she might take a kitchen maid’s place in a larger family; but tha she has been accustomed to both, but prefers the former – I suppose you will state in the advertisement that she is young active & healthy & not afraid of work – or something to that effect – The sooner you can conveniently do it, the better, because you know Ela will not want her after the appearance of the fourth tooth. – I do not mean that I shall wean her here, but I dare say it will be quite time when we get home to Lacock –

On Thursday last we all received the Sacrament with dear Marian, & Mr Brown read a us a Sermon afterwards adapted to our peculiar situation. – The whole ceremony was very delightful & very impressive – but very affecting, & I longed to have given way to my feelings more completely than seemed proper on such a solemn occasion – It is a Service in which we seem to hold especially communion with the Spirits of our departed friends – and of those most dear to me on Earth & especially I thought also – and of one more especially as dearer to me than my own soul – and I prayed that we might all share the same inestimable blessings of perfect pardon & peace, and happiness in another world! –

Ever dear Henry your affectionate
Constance

My Sisters continue pretty well & my Father also – Ela is charming – & has uncovered her pretty little arms –

I am rather sorry that I never thought of asking whether you would not put your servants into mourning <7> – I believe it is usual to do so for parents, though when it is on the Wife’s side it becomes optional – and you would perhaps dislike it on account of your Mother’s <8> great objection to anything that looks dismal – for this reason I will not make a positive request, though I should greatly preßfer its being done – My Maid I gave Price <9> her mourning without hesitation because she is my personal attendant – & the 2 Nurses had it given them at the same time as the rest of the family. – But of course – you will do as you please – & as James <10> is going so soon it becomes less desirable. –

Henry Fox Talbot Esqe
Lacock Abbey –
Chippenham


Notes:

1. Not located.

2. Francis Mundy (1771–1837), politician and father of Constance Talbot.

3. Laura Mundy (1805– 1 September 1842); Emily Mundy (1807– 5 November 1839); Marian Gilder, née Mundy (1806 – 14 October 1860); m. 6 August 1844 William Troward Gilder (d. 1871), Army Surgeon (ret).; WHFT’s sisters-in-law.

4. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.

5. A light carriage for hire.

6. Mary Kennedy.

7. For the death of Sarah Leaper Mundy, née Newton (d. 10 March 1836), WHFT's mother in law.

8. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.

9. Mrs Sarah Henneman, first m Price ( ca.1811–1848), housemaid at Lacock Abbey.

10. Servant.

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