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Document number: 01223
Date: 12 Dec 1824
Postmark: 17 Dec 1824
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: FEILDING Elisabeth Theresa, née Fox Strangways
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA24-68
Last updated: 10th February 2012

[this is written on the same sheet as a note from Horatia: Doc. No: 01492]

Paris
12th December

My Dearest

Horatia <1> & I think you did not see us draw up alongside of you dans l’obscurité de <2> notre Dame des Victoires & wave our Handkerchiefs at the carriage window, for you “gave no sign” & were soon ponder dans les tenèbres. <3> It seemed to us you would have chosen better to have placed yourself in the front part of your Seventy four than buried au fond <4> as you were, or as we suppose you were from what Giovanni <5> Said. His successor ne brûlera jamais la Thamise, <6> I thought he looked very plumbaceous. I have lent Giovanni a great many books, he swallows them wholesale. Gwynne <7> has heard of a place for him Piquéur to a Prince, in which he always would have good Horses at command, mais helas! <8> il faut porter la livrée. <9> I begin to have hopes about the pain in my side as it is much lessened. Pray write very often, it is my greatest pleasure, you cannot imagine what a blank your absence creates. We hope your innocent little pâté found favour in your eyes & that the Gingerbread Nuts warmed you in the cold Moonlight.

Mr F. <10> has been much disturbed to think that your reception in Sackville Street <11> would be with all Richard’s <12> vaunted uncomfortableness, as nobody had written to apprize him & he is never where he ought to be, & perhaps ten to one you could get in instead of finding a bed ready & a fire lit at the end of a wintry journey. Mr F. thinks it just possible you remembered to write yourself to Richard a week before Pray let us know what state you found the House in, & whether your new Plumbeus <13> contributes to under its gloominess more tolerable by his attentions or vice versa.

God bless you My Dearest

W. H. Fox Talbot Esqre
31 Sackville Street
London


Notes:

1. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.

2. In the obscurity of.

3. In the dark.

4. In the depths.

5. Giovanni Percij.

6. Will never burn the Thames.

7. Mrs Gwynne (d. winter 1841/1842), lady’s maid, cook and housekeeper to Elisabeth Feilding.

8. But Alas!

9. Someone has to carry the delivery.

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

11. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.

12. Richard, a servant.

13. Another word for ‘plumbago’, an ugly looking servant who resembles a plant [see Doc. No: 01232]. Also ‘plumbeus’ in Latin is dull, stupid, heavy, oppressive, bad.