18 Russel St
Saturday
My dear Henry
As I think you are the most likely person to have your wits about you on the present occasion I write to beg you will cause enquiries to be made at Chippenham <1> for a box containing some little cadeaux <2> for Caroline, <3> it is directed to her and was sent by the Coach to Chippenham, if we had known which was your Inn we would have desired it might have been deposited there. I hope it will arrive in proper time & we shall be very much obliged to you if you will inform us about it. –
Your Aunt Mary <4> is better for the waters, but it is necessary she should continue them for same time longer to be of lasting benefit. – I daresay your are all very busy for if hands don’t work heads do I know well enough, so I shall not trouble you with any more of my scribbling.
Good bye kind love to all it is impossible to say how much we think of you all, of course Horatia <5> is the one we have the greatest fellow feelg for! –
I am your affate coz
Mary T. T–
The box was sent to Chippenham by the Monarch which stops at the White Hart I am informed. I hope there will be no punctures when the box is unpacked.W. H. Fox Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. Gifts.
3. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
4. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776–1855), WHFT’s aunt.
5. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.