Southampton
April 17. –
My dear Henry
Many thanks for your two letters – & more especially for the last, so interesting in all that regards our dear travellers <1> – What deplorable adventures indeed! but how much worse they might have been, considering all the dangers to which they were exposed – As it is, no evil results seem to have ensued with the exception of poor Horatia’s fright & cold. – I think both we & they have great cause for thankfulness that they did not suffer more.
I did not know that Genoa would fall into their line of route – how dismal & unnatural to meet in that lovely place with a cold & cloudy sky! – I suppose they determined upon waiting there, till fairer weather & the re-establishment of Horatia’s health made travelling more agreeable. – I hoped to have seen Horatia return in high health & strength, but it does not appear now as if that were likely to be – And now I must tell you how very happy I am that you have got some companions in Sackville St <2> – a little quiet society would do you so much good. – When you have quite done your business, I shall be ready to resume my duties as a Wife. – Suppose you were to come on Saturday next, hear an edifying sermon from Mr Brown on Sunday, & keep Ela’s <3> birthday on Monday by going to see Netley, <4> or something of that kind. – As Though we cannot pass celebrate the 25th very joyously this year, we may as well spend it comfortably all together – Can you refuse your assent to such a plan? – for my Father’s <5> sake I wish you would afford us two days instead of one – If you cannot conveniently be ready to come so soon as Saturday I can of course stay a few days longer – but after that there will not be more than time for a visit from my Brother & Harriot <6> before my Father thinks of turning his steps homewards. – They After the end of this month, they take the house from week to week as long as they may wish to remain, & their present thoughts are of leaving the place towards the middle of May. – Nurse hopes that you will allow her to return to Lacock for the purpose of packing up her things, which I dare say you will not object to as there are vacant places about the carriages – I have explained to her that the whole arrangement s of her affairs in regard to wages &c subsequent to the day of her leaving off nursing, must remain till your arrival – she begins to be a little anxious about her future plans – My letter to Mina <7> arrived very mal à propos, <8> as they were on the point of leaving Town & had given up their carriage horses – but the good creature being determined nevertheless to execute my commissions, did so in a very half & half sort of way, by notes & messages which has not answered at all – & I should have much preferred her leaving them undone – I only asked for 2 squares of canvass, which ought not to have amounted to more than 12 shillings – by but as you say you paid £1·5s·6d – there must be some sad mistake about it. – However it will be cleared up when you come – Some screen frames wh I asked her to get, she had not time to procure, to but says they may be had at the Bazaars – therefore if when you go there for the Rice paper, you should see such things pray get some for me – I want those which are mere frames not proper for having silk or canvass stretched over them – not those made of wire-gauze ready for working – but the vendors of the latter are sure to keep those which I want – They are metal frames made with short handles of the sa[me] & ought not to cost more than 1s per pair – I want 2 pair [of] an oval shape, & 2 pr rather larger of a heart shape with a cross-piece connecting the handle with the point of the heart thus [illustration] <9> – I am not particular about the precise shape, but that is the sort of thing. – If this is troublesome to you do not think about it – but I find I cannot procure them there here – There is one other thing which I wished to name to you – it is the waistcoat which you talked of as a present for Hallam <10> – & I think you & could get a much more suitable one in London than I could here – & therefore I have not thought of enquiring – &
This is a dreadful scrawl, but I am sure you will excuse. – We want to know Mrs Chambers’s <11> present address – Mina says they are gone into Kent – Perhaps you could ask Mrs Mellish for it, or learn it in Chesterfield St –
Your affecte
Constance. –
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
31. Sackville Street
London
Notes:
1. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father, Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother and Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
2. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
3. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
4. Netley Abbey, the ruins of a 13th c. Cistercian abbey near Southampton.
5. Francis Mundy (1771–1837), politician and father of Constance Talbot.
6. William Mundy (1801-1877), politician, WHFT’s brother-in-law; and his wife, Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.
7. Mina Mellish, sister of Richard Charles Mellish (d. 1865), a clerk in the Foreign Office 1824–1855.
8. Inopportunely.
9. Illustration of frame.
10. Samuel Hallam.
11. An aunt of Mina and Richard Mellish.