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Document number: 01110
Date: 27 Feb 1823
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: FEILDING Elisabeth Theresa, née Fox Strangways
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Last updated: 23rd January 2012

[this is written on the same sheet as a note from Caroline - see Doc. No: 01058]

Rome,
February 27. 1823.

My Dear Henry

Caroline <1> sends you tit for tat I think. Pray tell Jane <2> to write to me as I want to know what has been the matter with her & when she comes back.

We send you by this post a Letter from Nice. pray tell us what news it contains from that place. Dreadful accts of the Agricultural distress in England, & Ireland, Mr Canning <3> is going to bring in a bill for lending the Sink[ing] <4> Fund, I suppose a lost hope. Lord Caulfields <5> death at Abbeville on his way to Paris, shocked us much, it was owing to breaking a bloodvessel in consequence of the kick of a Horse in his Chest. We hear dim accounts of the chance of letting houses in London this Year, which weighs excessively on Mr Feilding’s <6> spirits, in addition to which he is become extremely deaf & this having continued a fortnight makes him quite despair of ever getting the better of it. He is most terribly out of spirits about all things & I almost wish to give up Naples all together because as probably now this house will not be taken off our hands it will be too late in the year to go to Naples after our time in it is up

Lady Compton <7> has set off from hence intending to ride over Sicily, I pity her Mule. Mr Atkins <8> is painting yr Sisters <9> & very [like] <10>

Monr H. Fox Talbot
Signor Inglese
Posta ristanta
Napoli

Notes:

1. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.

2. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).

3. George Canning (1770–1827), statesman known for his liberal policies as foreign secretary (1807–1809, 1822–1827), and as prime minister for four months during 1827.

4. Written off the edge of page.

5. Lord Caulfield (d. 1823).

6. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.

7. Possibly Margaret Clephane, Lady Compton.

8. [See Doc. No: 01055].

9. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister, and Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.

10. Text obscured under seal.