Melbury <1>
Novr 4
My dear Henry
On my arrival here I received your letter from Paris, I am very glad to hear Aunt Lily <2> is so much better, I am sure change of scene will do her as much good as change of air; it is quite surprising to see how much amusement will do for people who are really ill. I remember well how incredulous I was about it in former days. I always allowed it to be of use to imaginary invalids but now I have seen so much that I am unwillingly undeceived. – Jane <3> & her chicks are gone to town – they left Glamorganshire a day before we did all quite well I am happy to say. We set out last Tuesday and only stayed a day in Bath in our way here. Sir C. <4> came on in the Coach from Bath & found that Giles <5> was going by the same conveyance which made the journey very pleasant to both parties. Giles has been very ill & is still far from well he had a violent cough when he set out from Scotland but he has nearly lost it now. Mrs Campbell <6> is here very middling indeed with a bad cold. Emily Murray <7> too has something of the same sort which prevents her singing but is not otherwise of much consequence the rest of the party consists of Lady G. Murray <8> Lady Ilchester, <9> Tom Strangways <10> & a Capt Fair who is a stranger to me. – I hear surprising accounts of Aunt Susan. <11> I long to see her, it is years since I have been in Dorsetshire so I must expect alterations but really to hear Aunt Susan talked of one would think her the same as ever she is a delightful person at all times. – Aunt Strangways <12> has been very ill & she kept her bed for a fortnight I believe – but she is much better now indeed they say she is quite well. – I have not heard anything of the Moreton party <13> for some time, only news came to Glamorganshire from Cornwall that Harriot <14> was going to be married to Lord Yarmouth so I send it a little farther. I like a proper gossip when I can’t believe a word of it myself! I believe he has been at Paris for years & probably she never saw him! – Sir Charles Lemon <15> is gone into Cornwall now he passed us on the road at Old Down we saw him at Bath before he set out. Mamma <16> thought him considerably better than he was when he left Penrice <17> he seemed in middling spirits & said he wished he was going with us. Mr Henry Dyke & his two elder sisters went with Sir Charles to Carclew <18> I believe Mrs Dyke <19> goes too in a day or two. Mr & Mrs Joddrell are to be there this winter too – so I hope Sir Charles will have some of them with him all the time he may be at home. – We have heard from Kit <20> at Cadiz again he was detained by the Easterly winds, his last letter was dated the 27 Septr he desires we will direct to Naples for the present he thinks of travelling about when he has laid the Yacht up for the winter. I wish you were to be of his party, it would add to his pleasure so much, he loves an indefatigable companion. Mr Mansel is with him but talks of returning in the Spring overland. – Our stay he[re]<21> is not settled so you had better direct to Penrice when you do write. – I hope you received a letter <22> Charlotte <23> wrote to you some time ago, she sent it to Sackville Street <24> because she did not know how to direct to you any where else. – Mamma received the “roots from Zante” & all possible care will be taken of them you may be sure. C. was delighted with the litho-graphic drawing. <25> She and Emma <26> have been indefatigable in sketching this summer & the things they have coloured in their master Mr Copley Fieldings <27> style are uncommonly pretty. We have had some delightful exploring parties this Autumn & when you come next we shall be able to show you several odd places which were not heard of when you were last at Penrice. – Mamma’s eyes have been very bad lately owing to her having such violent sneezing fits <28> which weaken them very much but she is rather better now I think. When you write again do tell me how Lady H. Galwey’s <29> girls are. I hope Caroline <30> will ultimately get over her weakness of lungs, Harry <31> was ill too when they left Southampton I think. – Many thanks for your amusing letter, I am obliged to send you an account of every body in return which I hope will do as I have no amusing ideas I am afraid at any time –
Love from all to all –
I am your affate coz
Mary.
à
Monsieur
Monsieur Talbot
Poste Restante
Paris
Notes:
1. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.
2. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
3. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).
4. Sir Christopher Cole (1770–1836), Captain, MP & naval officer.
5. Giles Digby Robert Fox Strangways (1798–1827).
6. Alicia Campbell, née Kelly, ‘Tam’ (1768–1829).
7. Amelia ‘Emily’ Matilda Murray (1795–1884), author.
8. Lady Anne Charlotte Murray, née Grant (d. 1844).
9. Juliana Maria Strangways, née Digby (d. 1842).
10. Lt Col Thomas Fox Strangways (1790-1854), a cousin of WHFT's mother, Lady Elisabeth Feilding and the son of her uncle Charles. He was grievously wounded at the battle of Waterloo but recovered unexpectedly and continued his military career. At the rank of Brigadier-General, he was killed in the Crimean War at the Battle of Inkerman on 5 November 1854.
11. Susannah Sarah Louisa O’Brien, née Strangways (1743–1827), WHFT’s great aunt.
12. Jane Strangways, wife of the Rev the Hon Charles Redlynch Fox Strangways, Rector of Maiden Newton, Dorset.
13. Lady Harriet Frampton, née Fox Strangways (d. 1844) and her husband James Frampton (1769–1855), High Sheriff, who lived at Moreton, Dorset: home of the Frampton family.
14. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.
15. Sir Charles Lemon (1784–1868), politician & scientist; WHFT’s uncle. His wife had died in May 1826, shortly after their young son. Their daughter had died the preceding year.
16. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776–1855), WHFT’s aunt.
17. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
18. Carclew, Cornwall, 3 mi N of Penryn: seat of Sir Charles Lemon.
19. Sister to Sir Charles Lemon (1784–1868), politician & scientist; WHFT’s uncle. [See Doc. No: 01243.]
20. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
21. Text obscured by seal.
22. This is Doc. No: 01497.
23. Charlotte Louisa 'Charry' Traherne, née Talbot (1800–1880), WHFT’s cousin.
24. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
25. See Doc. No: 01497.
26. Emma Thomasina Llewelyn, née Talbot (1806–1881), photographer; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
27. Antony Vandyke Copley Fielding (1787–1855), watercolour painter and fashionable teacher.
28. Lady Mary appears to have suffered from hayfever. [See Doc. No: 01314.]
29. Lady Harriet Payne Gallwey (1784-1845), née Quin, wife of Lt Gen Sir William Payne Gallwey (1759-1831), 1st Bart.
30. Caroline Payne Gallwey (d. 1848), having married Count Lionel de Bonneval.
31. Henry John Payne Gallwey (1812-1875), later Captain, RN.