Lanelay <1>
Augst 24
My dear Henry
We shall be delighted to see you when you come with Charles <2> to School. Our railroad is open from Chepstow and we have a station by the river’s side not much more than half a mile from our doors which is very convenient. –
I cannot give you a very good account of Jane <3> and her party they were at Geneva when I heard from them. Mr Nicholl <4> left England in a hurry to go to them, they have had much anxiety in the illness of the Maid Servant who attended upon Lucy <5> & she died last week, having been brought up in the family and all being much attached to her it has been a sad loss to them & Jane has been quite worn out nursing & doctoring her (she was unwilling to let any one else give her any thing) till they they [sic] reached Geneva. Lucy has not passed such a good winter as before & is not as strong as they could wish but I hope when they settle at Vevay which they thought of doing, the change will be beneficial to her & all. Jane wishes much to come home now to see Mamma <6> if she does John <7> will accompany her & Mr Nicholl remain with the rest of the family. She could only remain in England a fortnight she says & I really think the fatigue & expense would be too great to make it advisable to come, much as I long to see her –
Mr Traherne <8> is gone into North Wales to attend a Welsh Archæological meeting at Dolgelly he has taken one of his nephews with him, and Charlotte came here meantime to pay us a visit which is a very pleasant thing for us. –
Isabella <9> was unlucky in not seeing you, they are now at Sir John Ogilvies near Dundee I suppose, they were enchanted with the Lakes and Waterfalls &cc but overtired themselves sadly in scrambling about so much every day I think they must be glad to be somewhere quietly settled now.
John Llewelyn with Emma <10> & all the Children are at home now they have paid us two visits by the railroad & we hope for more as they are very fond of being whisked along by it! – Chrisr <11> is at Cowes, he came here for a day after he returned from his cruize on the coast of Spain, & took his little Girls from us to Cowes, where they are now enjoying the seabathing & having a swing on board the Capricorn very much he tells me –
I am glad the Cumberland air agrees with you all & hope you have enjoyed your Summer there. The hot weather did not agree with Mamma or me but we are revived by the change & when I don’t do too much in the Garden I feel as young & strong again as ever.–
Our kind love to Mrs Talbot <12> & all.
Ever your affate coz
Mary
Barrow House
Keswick
Notes:
1. Llanely, or Lanely, Glamorganshire: home of Lady Mary Cole and Mary Thereza Talbot.
2. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
3. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).
4. Dr John Nicholl (1797–1853), MP.
5. Lucy Mary Nicholl (1824-1876), of Merthyr Mawr.
6. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776–1855), WHFT’s aunt.
7. John Nicholl.
8. Rev John Montgomerie Traherne (1788–1860), JP & author.
9. Isabella Catherine Franklen, née Talbot (1804–1874).
10. John Dillwyn Llewelyn (1810–1882), Welsh photographer, JP & High Sheriff, and Emma Thomasina Llewelyn, née Talbot (1806–1881), photographer; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
11. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
12. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.