Margam <1>
Friday
My dear Henry
We came to this place to meet Genl McDonald and Susan, Fanny & George <2> who made a tour in North Wales after they left Scotland and are now paying us visits all round, we were glad to hear you had screwed up your courage to go as far as Markeaton <3> but from the unpleasant state of the weather you could have seen very little out of doors as you only staid there one week! –
I hope you found the dear Girls <4> all well on your return & that it was not on account of Ela’s health you left them at Bath? –
You wish for family news so I will begin properly by telling you that Mamma <5> is tolerably well but unable to do more than walk and then sit on her camp stool alternately in going along the Terrace she gets very stiff if she takes more exercise than that. She enjoys having her little Grand Children with her very much & they are extremely fond of being with her as you will easily believe – Chrisr <6> came here from Penrice <7> on purpose to shew the place & neighbourhood to Genl McDonald but alas there have not been two fine days since they came ten days ago (& I fear we are going to have another wet day today) so beyond the Gardens & Port there has not been any possibility of shewing it. –
Charlotte & Mr Traherne <8> have been at Tenby for some weeks but are now on their way home, Isabella & Emma <9> with all their families are quite well. Harry Franklen gone to Borneo in the Mæander the other two boys at School. –
My last letter from Lucy <10> was from the Baths of Lucca they were on the eve of removing to Florence & if Jane can spare Mr Nicholl I suppose he will come home for a short time before the winter but it is doubtful, as there are so many disturbances on the Continent he is unwilling to leave them alone. Lucy’s health is very much improved and she is really getting quite strong I hear. Jane herself is but indifferent & the youngest boy, Spencer, has not recovered his strength since he had that fall at Rome – the rest are quite well they have been enjoying themselves very much at Lucca where they tell me the pretty walks & rides are endless, the Summer has been favourable for excursions as they had ten weeks without rain & only an occasional thunder storm which cooled the air, & made it pleasant. they fully intend returning to Rome if possible for the winter & tell me Ld Mt Edgecumbe <11> means to do the same. –
I hope some day I may see your travelling Green house it sounds as if it would be a most convenient kind of thing & I suppose not on a very large scale so it might suit us, mean time we must content ourselves with what are tolerably hardy in the way of plants. I know most of those you mention and think them great additions to the flower garden if they will stand the winter with a slight covering. The Tropæolum Lobbi of course will not I have sent mine to the hot house at Merthyrmawr <12> also the Cuphea platycentra & I suppose the Hydrolea Spinosa will require heat too for the winter, it was lovely at Minterne last year in the Stove I know.
I do not know Forsythia viridissima but the Buddlea Lindleyana I saw at Bowood <13> three or four years ago in the Greenhouse & wondered at its name as it is so unlike the old Buddlea. – We have the anemone Japonica flourishing at Lanelay <14> since last year and a very pretty Androsace whose other name I have forgotten it looks like primula farinosa with a closer head of flowers. I have never visited any of the Nursery Gardens at Exter [sic] tho’ I have heard so much of them. –
Mr Dillwyn’s pamphlet <15> was to be procured by applying to Dr Lankester but I have forgotten the other person’s name who had any & have not got Mr Dillwyn’s note with me –
With our kind love to all
I remain your affcte
coz Mary
Notes:
1. Margam Park, Glamorgan: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
2. Susannah Sarah Louisa O’Brien, née Strangways (1743–1827), WHFT’s great aunt, Fanny Strangways, daughter of the Rev the Hon Charles Strangways, and probably John George Charles Fox Strangways (1803–1859), MP.
3. Markeaton Hall, Derbyshire, NW of Derby: home of the Mundy family.
4. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter, Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter, and Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.
5. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776–1855), WHFT’s aunt.
6. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
7. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
8. Charlotte Louisa 'Charry' Traherne, née Talbot (1800–1880), WHFT’s cousin, and Rev John Montgomerie Traherne (1788–1860), JP & author.
9. Isabella Catherine Franklen, née Talbot (1804–1874), and Emma Thomasina Llewelyn, née Talbot (1806–1881), photographer; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
10. Probably daughter of Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874), and Dr John Nicholl (1797–1853), MP.
11. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
12. Merthyr Mawr, Glamorgan, on River Ogwr.
13. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
14. Llanely, or Lanely, Glamorganshire: home of Lady Mary Cole and Mary Thereza Talbot.
15. Lewis Weston Dillwyn (1778–1855), Materials for a fauna and flora of Swansea and the neighbourhood (Swansea: D. Rees, 1848). [See also Doc. No: 06168].