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Document number: 8264
Date: Tue 04 Dec 1860
Dating: written Nov - WHFT corrected to Dec [also matches calendar]
Postmark: Windermere 4 Dec 1860
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: TALBOT Rosamond Constance
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: Acc 21625 (envelope)
Last updated: 19th November 2012

Oakfield <1>
Tuesday Nov. 4th

My dear Papa,

We have done all our packing up, and are quite ready to start tomorrow at one o’clock, and rejoice in an improvement of weather, which has been as bad as possible, with a constant gale of wind since the middle of last week. Sleeping at Carlisle will make our arrival at Edinburgh on Thursday so much more comfortable, as all the servants will be there the night before; – although we must leave Carlisle by a very early train 8 o’clock which in these dark mornings is rather unpleasant. Two of our people are already arrived at Moray Place by this time – Dunn <2>and a housemaid, who started yesterday afternoon, – so that we shall find everything as clean, warm, and comfortable as possible when we arrive.

Now I have got a piece of good news for you, contained in Tilly’s <3> last letter – if you have not already heard it direct from her – which will surprise and please you as much as it did everyone here. They had just received from Dumfries the intelligence by Telegraph that the missing plate box so long search for, had been found with all the plate in it quite safe! And where? in the Bank at Dumfries, just where it ought and was supposed to be, but where, through some unaccountable carelessness or indifference on the part of the authorities, two different searches, last year and this, had failed to bring it to light. At last Mr Clark <4> had put the affair into the hands of the Dumfries Inspector of Police, Mr Jones, and it is supposed that the discovery was made through his exertions, but Tilly knew no details when she wrote.

We went to hear the new Bishop of Carlisle <5> preach last Sunday at Crosthwaite; – he is on a visit to the Battersbys, <6> who are great friends: – but as he is rather inclined to the low-church party, half the town of Keswick is already up in arms against him; – and you would be amused to hear the violence with which party-spirit rages in this mighty city! – We heard of nothing else during our farewell visit to our neighbours yesterday – With all this I think I have not yet thanked you for your letter which I received Sunday. Do’nt [sic] forget to tell us what day you go to London. I am sure you must have had enough of the dismal solitude you describe, poor Papa, by this time. As soon as I can I will write you word how we like our new house.

None of us have heard anything from Charles <7> since the letter sent you, but we are never long without writing to him, and Mamie <8> was talking of doing so today.

Now goodbye, dear Papa, all here send their love –

Your affectionate daughter
Rosamond.

You can’t think how very friendly the Battersbys, Stangers and all were to us yesterday, and expressed so much regret to lose us, though we have seen so little of them this time. Colonel Wake has just been here. He dined at the Battersbys yesterday, to meet the Bishop and is delighted with him. He says his manners are so perfect, and he is known to be so good a man, that everybody will be won over to his side as soon as they know him.

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


Notes:

1. Near Dunfermline in Scotland.

2. Mrs Dunn.

3. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.

4. John Gilchrist-Clark (1830–1881), Scottish JP; WHFT’s son-in-law.

5. Hon. Samuel Waldegrave (1817–1869), Bishop of Carlisle from August 1860 until his death on 1 October 1869.

6. Rev Thomas Dundas Harford Battersby (1823–1883), author.

7. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.

8. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].

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