link to Talbot Project home page link to De Montfort University home page link to Glasgow University home page
Project Director: Professor Larry J Schaaf
 

Back to the letter search >

Result number 138 of 163:   < Back     Back to results list   Next >  

Document number: 2936
Date: 04 Nov 1873
Dating: 1873 confirmed by Doc no 02927
Postmark: Bath 4 Nov 1873
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: TALBOT Rosamond Constance
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number: Acc 22718 [envelope only]
Last updated: 1st May 2012

4 Circus <1>
4th November

My dear Papa,

I went to Vezey’s <2> today and he says that it will take about a week or ten days to make the glass shutters to the Carriage, but he would not want to keep it all that time. If it came in one day to be measured he could let it go away again next day; so when you come you might drive in the carriage all the way if it was a fine and mild enough day, and send it home next day.

So your friend the Comte de Chambord <3> has lost his chance – you know I always prophesied it would end so, I am only so sorry you would not take a bet on the subject!

The prospectus does not say how soon the 1st Vol. of “Records of the past” <4> is to be published – It cannot fail to be very interesting, & every project which tends to popularize these subjects deserves great encouragement: therefore I am very glad indeed you have contributed so much to it.

Our little garden is looking very green and cheerful for the time of year, we have had it put tidy, and the Chrysanthemums promise to make a fine show. I am going to make them some brown paper caps to put on at night and preserve them from the frost. The earth seems very good now, since Mr Drummond <5> put it to right last year, so I do not see why we should not rival Dean Cemetery in our Spring show! If you have any to spare among your new bulbs, you can send them here to try out of doors. I see the Tritileia Uniflora is coming up in 3 or 4 places.

Mr Fowler deplores the emptiness of the town, and says no one expects a good season. I suppose Bath has had too many excitements during the summer, and has now subsided.

Ibbley <6> writes to me this morning that she expects soon to hear of a butler likely to suit us. One unluckily was just snapped up before they had time to see him, and he was particularly well recommended.

I suppose Mama <7> keeps to her intention of coming early next week, but of course she will let us know her plans and your’s.

Ela <8> has not written here, but I suppose she will have enough of Weymouth at the end of 3 weeks.

Your affectionate daughter
Rosamond

I forgot to say that the carriage would have to be fitted when finished, so if not wanted at Lacock it would be less trouble to leave it here.

[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham.


Notes:

1. 4 the Circus, Bath; frequent summer home of Constance Talbot, now a Museum of Costume.

2. R & E Vezey Coach & Harness Makers, Bath.

3. Count de Henri Dieudonné d’Artois Chambord, Duke De Bordeaux (1820–1883), pretender to the French throne from 1830.

4. Records of the Past being English Translations of the Assyrian and Egyptian Monuments (London: Samuel Bagster & Sons), first published in 1874.

5. Thomas Drummond (1793-1835), Scottish botanical collector; died in Cuba in early March 1835.

6. Ibbley Spedding. Not identified, but almost certainly related to the Speddings who were also WHFT's correspondents. 'Ibbley' is slang for a petty thief, so it must have been a term of endearment.

7. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.

8. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.

Result number 138 of 163:   < Back     Back to results list   Next >