Margam <1>
Septr 30
My dear Henry
I don't think I have ever sent you word that we have heard from Christopher <2> from Lisbon, he had a very pleasant voyage, a fair wind all the way & no gales, he thought the bay of Biscay so smooth & charming he wondered how people could say it was such a stormy place! he has been to see several places in the neighbourhood & admires the sail up the Tagus very much. Mr C. Jones <3> & Mr Mansel are his companions & he found some difficulty in being allowed to bring the Galatea <4> into port from having passengers on board, however he met with some English people who managed it for him, I don't think he will be sorry to quit Lisbon the place exceeds any other in point of dirt and misery in short he is perfectly disgusted with it . We almost expect him daily now, as he did not intend going any farther & he will not attempt seeing Corunna this time as he is told he must perform Quarantine if he goes there. - I wish you had come to us at the Races we should have been so glad to see you. My Sisters enjoyed the balls very much but unfortunately I was doomed to be a spectator as I am very lame & can hardly walk, having had two wasp stings on my foot which are still very troublesome. We were interested one day by a race between a horse of Mr Henry Lucas's <5> and some others the former beat to our great delight in a very fine manner he was sold instantly for a hundred guineas to another friend of ours & won the race next day carrying a great deal more weight, to the astonishment of all the knowing folks there.- I have enclosed two little dried specimens from one of the seed boxes at home, the Asclepias I think uncommonly pretty it is a dwarf sort, I think & I want to know if you think it hardy enough to grow out of doors all the year round. - The garden was magnificent when we left home Bella donna's by dozens in flower, we counted some which had fifteen flowers on one stem. I think we left upwards of twenty Guernsey lilies just coming out a quantity of blue Agapanthus & the Amaryllis undulata besides other more common plants & our myrtle hedge in blow from one end to the other. We have many visits to pay in the county before we return home again but I hope a mat <6> will prevent some of our beauties from being quite spoilt The garden here is very nice but there is a great want of flowers in it to our eyes, we have some very sweet Jessamine in the Orangery the Catalonian & the Azorian, the Orange trees of all sorts look extremely well & I really believe the hot weather we have had this summer has been the cause of their good looks in a great measure. They are still out of doors & if this fine weather lasts, will not be put in for some time. -
Mary Anne Shakespear <7> parted with us at Cardiff she is gone to Mrs Bathurst's <8> at Lydney for a short time before she returns to Cheltenham where she intends being with her brother for the future.- Jane <9> & her children are quite well they go to town the latter end of next month I am sorry to say & I believe Charlotte <10> will accept of the invitation & spend a few weeks with Jane in Montague Square. <11>
Emma <12> has been sketching a great deal this summer & Isabella <13> has been playing on the Organ ever since we've been here almost
they are now both at Merthyr Mawr <14> & I daresay find enough to do in playing with the children I am sorry to say Mamma <15> has such an inflammation in her eyes she can hardly do any thing to amuse herself it proceeds from relaxation they say & will go off when she is stronger she is very subject to it in a less violent state particularly when she has any sweet flowers [in]<16> the room.-
I am your affate coz
Mary
1825 Cardiff October Three Chrisr Cole <17>
W.H.F. Talbot Esqr
Bowood <18>
Calne
Wilts
Notes:
1. Margam Park, Glamorgan: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
2. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803-1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT's Welsh cousin.
3. Rev Calvert Richard Jones (1802-1877), Welsh painter & photographer.
4. Christopher Talbot's new yacht - see Doc. No: 01251.
5. See Doc. No: 01187.
6. As a covering against the frost.
7. Mary Anne Thackeray, née Shakespear (1793-1850).
8. Charlotte Bathurst, née Addington (d. 1839), of Lydney Park, Gloucestershire.
9. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796-1874).
10. Charlotte Louisa 'Charry' Traherne, née Talbot (1800-1880), WHFT's cousin.
11. 8 Montague Square was the London house of John Nicholl, and Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796-1874).
12. Emma Thomasina Llewelyn, née Talbot (1806-1881), photographer; WHFT's Welsh cousin.
13. Isabella Catherine Franklen, née Talbot (1804-1874).
14. Merthyr Mawr, Glamorgan, on River Ogwr.
15. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776-1855), WHFT's aunt. She appears to have suffered from hayfever.
16. Text obscured under seal.
17. Sir Christopher Cole (1770-1836), Captain, MP & naval officer.
18. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.