London
9th April
Mein theureste <1>
yesterday I saw the Man who saw you twelve days before! he assures me the post goes among the Islands & that you will be sure to get the letters we sent that way; - better perhaps than this, as he seems rather uncertain where he is going to. Mr F's <2> advice is to write to you always by the common post. I wish I knew. - Charlotte <3> has had a relapse since you went, but is now recovering - she desires me to tell you she collected the Milk of the Euphorbium Dendroides <4> in a bottle as you desired & it is become a lump: Sir Charles <5> was going to take it to be examined by some scientific Gesellschaft <6> which I believe she prevented till you had seen it. Caroline <7> is going to take your two Botanical Letters to her, received from Ancona, as soon as she is better, for as soon as she is the least convalescent nothing does her so much good as anything pertaining to L'Empire de Flore. <8> The Talbots are all settled in the Cobourg Hôtel, a very uncomfortable noisy place I think, however they seem not to dislike it. Isabella <9> likes anything gay & opposed to her usual solitude. Emma <10> has I am sorry to say lost much of her beauty which shews how foolish it is to keep her girls shut up till they are 20, when often the first bloom of the plum is past. Isabella (who is of age!) never was at an Opera till last Tuesday! She was in raptures. Indeed the danger is of people loving the world too much who have been cooped up in the Country all their youth. London is very dull at present, they say the reason is people are hoarding their Money for the general Election. <11> The only thing stirring is the Conversation about & preparations for the Ball for the poor Spaniards <12> & refugee Italians. I suppose as usual in these charity balls the Money received for the tickets will be all swallowed up in the decorations of the Opera House where it is to be. - How much we all in this house envy you I need not say - felicissimo voi, qui mores hominum multorum videt & urbes. <13> Mr F. desires me to say he will write to you next. God bless you - Geliebter <14> - you have been very good about writing - pray continue it. Vale delicium meum; et mihi, quod potes, solatium date <15> -
Mr
Monr W. H. F. Talbot
Corfu
Notes:
1. She means 'my dearest'.
2. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780-1837), Royal Navy; WHFT's step-father.
3. Lady Charlotte Anne Lemon, née Strangways (d. 1826), WHFT's aunt.
4. See Doc. No: 01257.
5. Sir Charles Lemon (1784-1868), politician & scientist; WHFT's uncle.
6. Society.
7. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808-1881); WHFT's half-sister.
8. Flora's Empire; the Kingdom of Flowers.
9. Isabella Catherine Franklen, née Talbot (1804-1874). The Coburg's name was changed during the patriotic fever of WWI to the Connaught, which survives to this day.
10. Emma Thomasina Llewelyn, née Talbot (1806-1881), photographer; WHFT's Welsh cousin.
11. It took place in June 1826. [See Doc. No: 01444].
12. This is probably a reference to events that took place after the 1823 war between France and Spain. Armed revolutionaries, opposing to absolutism, captured Spain's King Ferdinand VII. International powers at the Congress of Verona authorized France to intervene in the conflict and restore Ferdinand to his throne, despite Britain's objection. The 1822-1833 decade in Spanish history was called the 'ominous decade'.
13. Most happy you, who see the customs and cities of many men.
14. Beloved.
15. Goodbye, my delight, and do what you can to give me comfort.