Sunday July 10 –
My dear Henry
The post this morning brought two documents for you – one is merely a note from Chippenham <1> – the other is a very wise-looking printed sheet – entitled “Mr Talbot’s Researches in the Integral Calculus –” <2> Judging that you might wish to see the latter without loss of time I have enclosed it by this post to Mr Strangways <3> – so, as I said on a former occasion, I advise you to send to him for it, if it should not arrive immediately – I long exceedingly to see you again, but I scarcely expect that you will come so soon as Tuesday – I learnt yesterday that the Assizes commence on Thursday; from Mr & Mrs Starky <4> who paid me a morning visit – Mr S– was anxious to know whether you meant to attend; & as I discovered in the course of conversation, that he had a cause of his own coming on, I suspected that he might wish to engage your services as a Juryman – Luckily I had just before expatiated upon your sufferings of last year, <5> so I hope, if he had entertained any such designs, he would relinquish them in consequence of what I said – The Heir of Spy-park <6> & the Heiress of Lacock Abbey <7> were introduced to each other. – He is 2 years old & a very fine child indeed, but by no means so disposed to sociability as Ela, whose advances he received with ungallant coldness – However I must say in excuse for him that he was cutting a troublesome tooth, & annoyed besides, at being torn away from the contemplation of the Carriage-horses – I learn from Mr John Awdry <8> that he had a second attack from Thieves last night – Fortunately they only secured a leg of Mutton, as the family were aroused by the ringing of the bells which had been attached to some of the doors as a measure of precaution – He thinks he shall be able to discover the depredators. –
Tomorrow evening, Ela & I are going to drink tea with Mrs Paley <9> at seven o’clock! – Did you expect I should be so gay during your absence? –
I was delighted yesterday to discover in the greenhouse a third pot of young oranges of my February sowing – I wonder we should both have been so long ignorant of its existence – You will find your Seedlings immensely grown, especially one of the Ipomeas whose slender shoots proclaim it to be a creeping plant – Several things in my garden have blown since you went – but as there is nothing rare, I will not give you their names –
Ela trots about merrily without even the assistance of a finger – & I am charmed to remark that she has a most excellent notion of falling – She goes every day into your Library & plays on the Sofa &c – She has just recommenced talking of ‘Mamma’ – but ‘Papa’ is still the favorite – I hope Horatia <10>continues to amend – my love to her –
Your affectionate
Constance.
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
31. Sackville Street
London
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. WHFT, ‘Researches in the Integral Calculus, Part One’ Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, v. 126 part 1, 1836, pp.177–215.
3. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.
4. Edward Andrew Starky and Charlotte Starky, née Wyndham, of Spye Park, Bromham, Wiltshire.
5. See Doc. No: 03120.
6. John Bayntun Starky (b. 1834).
7. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
8. John Awdry (1766–1844), solicitor, Reybridge.
9. The wife of Rev James Paley (1790–1863), Vicar at Lacock.
10. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.