London
Aug 1st
My dear Henry
Jane <1> thinks when you come to eight Children there is no need of writing about them but if there were a hundred I think I should feel equally interested in hearing a bout them, so in case you should not have heard that she had added an eighth to her family I shall send you word that such is the case, he is a nice little boy and is to be called Stephen Fox I believe. – Jane is going on well & we are all very happy as you may suppose. –
I hope you will not fail to let me know when you receive my good news of Caroline <2> for indeed you are the only one who has a right idea of the affection one feels for ones relations I think.–
Sir C Lemon <3> does not seem the worse for the fall from his horse but he has a black arm still –
Uncle Harry <4> was in Town for a day & I was lucky enough to meet him & had a nice walk with him. Lady I & Lady George Murray <5> called one day they were full of the intended marriage of Miss Murray the Bishop’s <6> Eldest daughter, to Ld Breechmont which gives great pleasure to all parties they say. – Lady G. &c are gone today I believe to a cottage at Acton belonging to Lady Byron <7> she has lent it them for a couple of months –
I should have liked to have paid you a little visit in my way up to Town but I was in a hurry & did not know how to manage it very well. I long to see you & my little <8> cousin very much I hope she is like her Mamma <9> as girls ought to be! –
Pray remember me most kindly to her & believe me to be every
your affate cos
Mary T.
Sir C & Mamma <10> are gone to Cowes & so are Mr Traherne <11> & Charles (Christopher <12> is here of course) & the rest of my sisters are at their own houses. –
The Phacelia tanacetifolia & Lupinus nana were much admired when they were in blow I suppose both are annuals.–
London August one 1835
H. F. Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).
2. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
3. Sir Charles Lemon (1784–1868), politician & scientist; WHFT’s uncle.
4. Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).
5. Juliana Maria Strangways, née Digby (d. 1842), and Lady Anne Charlotte Murray, née Grant (d. 1844).
6. George Murray, Bishop of Rochester and Dean of Worcester (1784–1860).
7. Anne Isabella (Annabella) Milbanke, Lady Byron (1792–1860).
8. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
9. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
10. Sir Christopher Cole (1770–1836), Captain, MP & naval officer, and Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776–1855), WHFT’s aunt.
11. Rev John Montgomerie Traherne (1788–1860), JP & author.
12. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.