Markeaton <1>
Thursday evening –
September 29. –
Dearest Henry
I shall be very pleased to see you indeed, & hope you will come soon, else I am sure you will pay a very shabby visit – for much as I would like to stay here still a long time, I cannot close my eyes to the probability of your wanting ere long to reclaim me. Time flies away so dreadfully fast when one wishes to make it go slower than usual – & I really can hardly believe the fact that my fourth week will be completed tomorrow. It seems so natural to me to settle down at my old home, that I cannot feel as if I ought to be or could be, going away again at present – I am afraid you will think me rather unreasonable, but I am sure you will make allowances for me & understand the number of reasons I have for being attached to this dear place. – My 2 Aunts Mrs Newton & Miss Newton, & their niece Henrietta Newton <2> tripped off to North Wales – about 10 days ago. – I have heard from the 1st named Aunt today, & she gives such a charming account of the places which they have visited & especially of a small place called Rhyl near St Asaph, where they have fixed their head quarters for a short time, that I feel rather regretful that our route will lie in such a different part of the Country. – Harriot <3> told me yesterday that her Aunt & cousins reckoned the climate of Penrice <4> a remarkably warm one – if so might we not find some desirable winter quarters in that neighbourhood? – I think this would be very charming – I am so glad that you have begun the iron fence at last – & I hope that during the progress of its erection the poor dear trees of Lacock shrubbery will enjoy a temporary prolongation of their lives – for I conclude your Mother’s <5> attention will be wholly engaged by the said fence. – I am sorry that the Calne bazaar is to take place in the way you mention – what a melancholy falling off from the original plan! – Of my works I am afraid it must wholly deprived, because, not thinking they could be wanted in my absence, I locked them up carefully before I left home – Pray remind Horatia <6> that one of her bags – (that with the pink tassels) is bespoken by me. – At this moment, I recollect that a few of my most trifling performances – (the paper baskets for instance) might possibly be sent with Horatia’s things – so if she lets me know when they are wanted, I will write her word, where they are to be found & what price I wish put upon them. – How very unfortunate dear Horatia is about catching cold! & yet she thinks herself fit to have a winter at Lacock! – I dare say you will come prepared with the means of reinforcing my allowance; as the nice warm useful things I have provided myself with, will make rather larger demands upon it than the present contents of my purse are able to answer – The Carpenter here has altered my workframe very nicely, & made for me besides a little stretching stool, (which I have been pining for ever since I married) & a hot footstool like Laura’s <7> which I have often told you I wanted beyond anything. – So I shall be quite armed against the rigors of next Winter – How good my garden is to go on flowering so perseveringly! – I think the flowers that have adorned it this year were most judiciously selected for durability, & may be repeated with justice for the next. – I am particularly pleased that Reid <8> has remembered my directions about housing the geraniums &c – It shews that he has a good memory & is anxious to do what is right. – The early frost which threatened us a few nights back seems to have postponed its cruel attacks – All the noble Orange trees here have been placed under cover for fear of accidents. – They are much improved since I saw them though they have been sick in the interval. – The gardener complains that they are grown too tall for their winter house, & he wants to give them away – how shocking! this is the worst thing I have heard of him – He certainly excels in the management of a kitchen-garden – that department is more improved than I could have imagined – I think even you will be struck by its neatness, although you cannot remember much about its former state – Adieu –
Your affectionate
Constance. –
Of course you will write to say what day we must expect you –
Ela <9> has looked a little pale again the last few days – symptoms of more teeth I suppose, only they do not shew themselves – Uncle Leaper <10> is as fond of her as possible – it is amusing to see them marching together round the Dining room while we are at Luncheon –
If you like the poney carriage to meet you at Derby, I have no doubt it can be sent for you – & your goods –
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Markeaton Hall, Derbyshire, NW of Derby: home of the Mundy family.
2. Related to Sarah Leaper Mundy, née Newton (d. 1836), WHFT’s mother in law.
3. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.
4. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
5. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
6. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
7. Laura Mundy (1805–1842), WHFT’s sister-in-law.
8. John Reid, head gardener at Lacock Abbey.
9. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
10. Related to Sarah Leaper Mundy, née Newton (d. 1836), WHFT’s mother in law.