[The envelope for this letter is in a private collection.]
Margam <1>
March 21 1842
My dear Henry
I shall have much pleasure in acting as godfather to your little boy.<2> I suppose you will bring him to London to be christened – I am much disappointed at your not being able to come here this spring, but whenever you are able to come, this place will be all the more worth visiting, for as yet it is in but a state of transition from chaos to paradise. I cannot at all comprehend why Aunt Lily <3> should fancy the choice of road to this place lies between the Gloucester road, and the Cardiff steamer. A dislike of the steamer & of the bad Inn at Gloucester may be good reasons for not venturing [illegible deletion] upon either, but as the only proper and usual road is by the Old Passage ferry, which is regularly performed every day in the year by the mail and coaches in eight hours from Bristol to Margam, I do not see the relevancy of the objection. Leaving Lacock in the morning at nine, she might very well reach this to dinner the same day viâ the Old Passage. The Cardiff steamer saves trouble, not always time. The passage is nearly all river work, and therefore smooth water. I have been from hence to Bristol in 5 hours.
I wish you a very pleasant journey to Florence and a safe return.
Yours ever truly
CRM Talbotbr4>Notes:
1. Margam Park, Glamorgan: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
2. Charles Henry Talbot, (2 Feb 1842 - 26 Dec 1916), 'Charlie'; 'Tally'; antiquary & WHFT's only son.
3. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.