Coedriglan <1>
Novr 12th
My dear Henry
Your letter to Sir Chrisr <2> has been travelling all over the world & at last has arrived here, where we have been for the last week. If you I had known where to find you I should have written to congratulate you on becoming an Uncle <3> I have desired Horatia <4> to do so from me I am very glad to hear your Mother <5> has not had any unnecessary anxiety on the account of either Caroline or her babe & I hope they will continue to go on prosperously. –
If the parcel you have for me is small, I think it had better go to London to Jane <6> when you have any opportunity but if it can take care of itself, it may come here by the Mail directed to me at
The Revd J. M. Traherne
Coedriglan
Cardiff
to be left at St Nicholas.
I shall be delighted to have it tho’ I am sure it cannot contain an answer to the letter I wrote him when we were in Dorsetshire – I hope your garden is Flourishing & that you have a good stack of Crysanthemums to make your windows gay for the winter; Your must be very dull at home by yourself. Horatia enjoyed her visit to Melbury <7> very much I think, we were all delighted to have her there when we were there too, it was very fortunate. – Jane is just gone to town she intends stopping to see Johnny <8> at Beaconsfield in her way, the girls & Ilted <9> remain at Merthyr Mawr <10> with their Governess as Jane hopes to return there before Christmas. –
Your Aunt Mary is pretty well & all the rest very – now; we hope to see Isabella soon, I hear her little boy is very much improved. –
All send their love
I am your affate coz
Mary T–
Cardiff Novr thirteen 1832 CRM Talbot <11>
W. H. F. Talbot Esq
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
31 Sackville Street
Piccadilly
London
Notes:
1. Coedriglan, near Cardiff, Wales: home of the Rev John Montgomerie Traherne, husband of WHFT’s cousin Charlotte.
2. Sir Christopher Cole (1770–1836), Captain, MP & naval officer.
3. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister had recently given birth to William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
4. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
5. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
6. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).
7. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.
8. John Cole Nicholl (b. 1823), eldest son of Jane Harriet Nicholl.
9. Iltyd Thomas Mansel Nicholl (1828–1885), son of Jane Harriet Nicholl.
10. Merthyr Mawr, Glamorgan, on River Ogwr.
11. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.