Rothay Bank. Grasmere. <1>
August the 20th
My dear Papa,
It is more agreeable to write on a bright and sunny morning, than when all is looking gloomy or in pouring rain, and that is why I have delayed till now – for unfortunately we have had too great a proportion of the latter weather, which has prevented Charles <2> from undertaking any very long walks since he arrived. Today however some of us propose driving to little Langdale <3> and Blea tarns, <4> which promises to be a very pleasant expedition. He is grown enthusiastic on the subject of Pike fishing – and the other evening brought home two small ones, the result of an expedition on the Lake with Mr Green. <5> Yesterday in Company with George <6> he rowed about most perseveringly for several hours, but succeeded in catching nothing –
We had a visit yesterday from Major Wake <7> who had been to Windermere station with some friends and was returning home. The country is overrun with tourists, they cram into every little nook and corner – Ambleside looks in a state of insurrection, such is the excitement and confusion. Many I should think must be have great difficulty in finding a bed – and the other day Mr Carlisle Wake <8> found an unfortunate gentleman and his daughter wandering about late in the streets of Keswick unable to find a shelter; – so he took pity on them and gave them hospitality at Ormathwaite <9>, where they turned out to be old acquaintances and passed two days very agreeably. –
Charles brought with him from Speddoch <10> some excellent Grouse, the result of the first day’s shooting in the rain, and Grapes from that famous vine, which I am afraid far outshines any thing that we can produce.
Mama <11> had a letter from Louisa Howard <12> this morning mentioning that poor Ld Lansdowne <13> had been very ill. Had you heard any thing of it? She says “he is just recovering from a severe illness, which brought me up to town to see him. It was one of the prevalent attacks of sickness &c – but at his age very alarming, and gout followed when he was too weak to bear it. – I found him recovering, however, with his usual vigour, when he once turns the corner, and he is now here (at Richmond) as a half way step to Bowood <14>, where I hope we shall go soon.” What a wonderful constitution he must have! – She mentions the great heat: do you suffer from it now <.> I am sure today it is as hot here as it can be any where, – the most summer like day we have had.
I send you this sketch <15> to refresh your memory as to the external appearance of the house, from the gate – Seat Sandal in the distance.
Charles is anxiously expecting your answer concerning the whereabouts of Theodore, <16> as he much wants a companion in his walks.
Ela <17> desires me to thank you for the letter she received some time ago, and which she soon means to answer –
Your affectionate daughter
Rosamond.
Mamie <18> vous fait bien ses amitiés et desire savoir si vous n’êtes pas enchanté de l’amnistie proclamée par Bedinguet? – Voici la première bonne action de sa vie! – mais je ne veux pas entrer en de plus longues digressions politiques. <19>
I forgot to tell you that the Shelburns <20> are in Scotland to the great joy of the children <21>.
Major Wake told us that Mrs Shakespear <22> will really leave for India in October with her sister Lady Grant. <23>
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wiltshire.
Notes:
1. Grasmere, Westmoreland: popular summer venue; Wordsworth is buried there.
2. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
3. Little Langdale is the smaller of two valleys to the south-west of Grasmere.
4. A small lake five miles west of Ambleside.
5. J F Green.
6. George Wilkins (b. 1814), gardener at Lacock.
7. Charles Hamilton Wake (1808–1872).
8. Carlisle William Wake (1815–1890).
9. Ormathwaite Hall, near Keswick, seat of Sir John Walsh (1798–1881), 2nd Baron Ormathwaite.
10. Speddoch, Dumfriesshire, 10 mi NW of Dumfries: home of WHFT’s daughter Matilda.
11. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
12. Lady Louisa Howard, (1813–1906), daughter of Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle. She married The Hon. James Kenneth Howard in 1845.
13. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.
14. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
15. Her sketch of Rothay Bank runs across the top of the letter.
16. Theodore Franklin.
17. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
18. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
19. Mamie sends you her compliments and desires to know if you aren’t delighted with the amnesty proclaimed by Bedinguet? – It is the first good deed in his life! – but I don’t wish to go into longer political digressions.
20. Henry Fitzmaurice, Lord Shelburne, 4th Marquess of Lansdowne (1816–1866), MP.
21. Probably children of Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
22. A relative of Mary Ann Thackeray, née Shakespear (1793-1850); WHFT's cousin. Several of her brothers were employed by the East India Company - see Sir William Wilson Hunter, The Thackerays in India, and Some Calcutta Graves (London: Henry Frowde, 1897).
23. Lady Helen Grant (née Tayler), wife of Sir James Hope Grant (b.1803), Commander-in-Chief, Madras, India in 1862.