Tuesday July. 11th
My dear Father,
I am coming to Lacock on Thursday morning as I wrote to Monnie. <1> I havent shall go by the earliest train that I can and will You be so good therefore as to ask them to send the pony-carriage to meet the express which gets to Chippenham at 11.40. unless If I do not write again. and if I am not there by the express it had better wait for the next fast train 1.55, which leaves London at 10.
The Miss Gibson Craigs <2> are coming on Friday as they told me last night. there being a ball at Lady Essen’s on Thursday.
We had a beautiful ball at Mrs [Nivins?] last night. Not too hot very hot but yet very crowded which is always I believe the case. I did knew very few people so didn’t dance much but contented myself with conversation.
They had a cotillon [sic] which lasted a long time, and it was 5 oclock when they [illegible deletion] finished, and rather a nice looking morning.
I wrote yesterday to Theodore Talbot <3> & Champneys asking them to come, I also wrote to Monnie.
Sir William <4> is going to leave Town on Wednesday I think. I am going to try and find Aunt Caroline <5> again today.
I hope you will succeed with Mr Nesbitts <6> book-cover. I never heard that the photograph had been sent. Did you acknowledge the receipt of it. a If not I will write and thank him when I get to Lacock. If you did I hope you didn’t spell his name Nisbett
Your affect son
Charles.
Notes:
1. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.
2. Mary Cecilia Gibson-Craig (b 1800 or 1804) and Margaret Christian Gibson-Craig (d. 1871), daughters of Sir James Gibson-Craig, Scottish politician.
3. Theodore Mansel Talbot (1839–1876), WHFT’s Welsh nephew.
4. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.
5. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
6. Alexander Nesbitt (1817–1886), archaeologist & ancient glass collector.