Bowood <1>
Sunday evening –
My dear Henry
I meant to have written to you by today’s post – but I could not put carry my good intentions into effect for time fled as unaccountably fast as it has done every day since we came here – I went to Church at Derryhill immediately after breakfast with Aunt L. <2> & Mrs Moore <3> while the children took a scramble in the wood – then after a little space, came luncheon & then a bustle to get ready for the afternoon service in the Chapel – at which the children assisted to their great contentment. Then we were engaged with Clanmaurice & Edmond <4> – till tea – so that I had great difficulty in penning a few lines of importance to Mlle Amélina <5> – in answer to a letter received from her this morning. I had intended going to see her tomorrow – but as I found it would be difficult to leave Bowood early enough, I consented to wait till Tuesday – She had written me word she was much better & quite ready to return to Lacock – but in this last letter she says that feeling less well again she had yielded to the entreaties of Horatia <6> & Caroline <7> as well as ours & consulted Dr Watson. <8> – He undertakes to do her much good if she will remain under his care a month or six weeks – & bathe & drink the waters. She says she feels this to be impossible – knowing how much she is wanted at home – but I shall talk it over with her – and hear what hopes the Doctor gives of its being really of use. If it were to be the means of a perfect restoration to health, of course it would be worth while to spare her – but what certainty is there? And if we were all to go there in order that the children <9> might have the benefit of her instructions, perhaps the fatigue attending upon this duty, might neutralise the good of the waters. – So I scarcely know what to advise or what to wish for – Only I say this much in order that you may not too hastily take a house in London – Mr & Mrs Moore <10> came on Friday & the Howards <11> went away yesterday – Much regret has been expressed at your not being here. Aunt L. was much pleased with your last little pictures – She said she was often asked whether there was any place in London where they could be bought – & that she had always said she did not know – I enlightened her on the subject, but promised to get the correct address for her, which I have myself forgotten.
I have had several delightful scrambles in the wood with the children & I hope tomorrow to see the hothouses – There are scarcely any flowers in the drawing rooms this time worth looking at – about all are chrysanthemums which I don’t think worthy of such honor, as they abound in the open ground & in the greenhouse. –
Good night dear Henry & pardon my scribble as I am beginning to grow rather sleepy – They keep very early hours here – perhaps in compliment to Mrs Moore –
Yr affectionate
Constance –
Notes:
1. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
2. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), wife of Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838; WHFT's aunt.
3. Elizabeth (Bessie) Moore, née Dyke (1783–1865), wife of the poet Thomas Moore.
4. Henry Charles Keith Petty Fitzmaurice, Viscount Clanmaurice (b. 1845) and Edmond George Petty Fitzmaurice (b. 1846), sons of Sir Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, Lord Shelburne, 4th Marquess of Lansdowne (1816–1866), MP and WHFT's cousin, and his second wife, Hon Emily Jane Mercer-Elphinstone-de Flahault, Baroness Nairne (1819-1895).
5. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
6. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
7. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
8. A physician from Bath.
9. Thomas Moore (1780–1852), Irish poet.
10. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter, Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter and Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
11. James Kenneth Howard (1814–1882), and his wife, Lady Louisa, née Petty-FitzMaurice (d. 1906).