Oakfield <1>
October 19th
My dear Papa,
Mama <2> wishes me to tell you that when she mentioned yesterday that Uncle Mundy <3> was in town, she forgot to say that she has asked him whether he can recommend a servant to you, as he may very likely know of some respectable person to be had. Therefore if you meet him or Aunt Harriet <4> she advises you to repeat the question, if you are still unsuited. You know he is to be heard of at the Carlton club.
Here we are all half drowned, the whole valley is a swamp and if these torrents continue to fall much longer we shall have one vast sheet of water before our eyes by the union of the two lakes – The sight would be grand, but not much to the taste of the far farmers – We were very glad of so good an account of Charles, <5> and I hope this new life will really stir him up. Do you know that he has only written once to Mama since he left us, and not once to Ela <6> or me, though we tried all we could to persuade him at the beginning though now we begin to think it rather a hopeless case.
Tilly <7> is looking forward rather impatiently to Edinburgh, as she says the dreary weather makes it high time to be thinking of winter quarters. I suppose you know they have a nice house in Coates Crescent taken from the term 11th Novr
We shall be glad to see Goodwin <8> here again, as our poor little Robert <9> has hard work all by himself, though no one could be more willing than he is. But he is not strong, and is so little for his age, that he does not appear more than thirteen.
Mr Headlam’s <10> marriage is no longer a mystery, and the Lady is Miss Agnes Favell, who perhaps you may remember, having been with her and her mother to the Cristal Palace, when Mama was in London for a short time some years ago. Mama thanks you for your letter of this morning.
With love from all, and hoping to see you soon –
Your affectionate daughter
Rosamond.
[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esqre
Athenæum Club
London
S.W.
Notes:
1. Near Dunfermline in Scotland.
2. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
3. Francis Noel Mundy (1833–1903), WHFT’s nephew.
4. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.
5. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
6. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
7. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
8. George Goodwin (d. 1875), footman at Lacock Abbey.
9. A servant.
10. Rev Arthur William Headlam (1826–1909), clergy and tutor to Charles Henry Talbot. On 26 June 1861, he married Agnes Sarah, née Favell.