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Document number: 01718
Date: 30 Sep 1828
Postmark: 30 Sep 1828
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: FEILDING Charles
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA28-73
Last updated: 20th February 2012

Carclew <1>
30 September

My dear Henry,

We begin to think it long since we have heard of you, having only recd one letter since you reached Switzerland – I am very sorry you did not find more letters from home at Geneva, but I assure you it was not my fault – 7 have been written & this is the 8th & now that we direct by “France” as you desire I hope you get them more regularly – We have been very quietly happy, & comfortable here – & by way of a whit been cheered & very much amused by the arrival of the Queen of Portugal, <2> which created great enthusiasm amongst the Falmouthians <3> – The spirit seems to h have moved all the Quakers for they exerted themselves excessively. She was recd on shore by about 30 little girls prettily dressed, & strewing Flowers before her, & she proceeded to the Portuguese Consuls (a Quaker) where she held a drawing room, & where your mother & sisters <4> were presented & kissed her little hand – poor thing!! I fear the Throne at the Quakers is the only one she will ever ascend – her landing was a very pretty sight & the day most beautiful – she is not handsome – something like Pss Charlotte, <5> german in short – The King <6> sent his Carriage & Lords of the Bedchamber <7> to receive her as a Queen & as in his Speech he says he shall be guided by the wishes of the head of the House of Braganza <8> – I do not see how we are to resist Pedro’s <9> appeal if he makes it in despight [sic] of the calmant <10> which has been administered to him in the shape of Ld Strayford[?] <11> – Freemantle <12> who came straight from the cottage at Windsor says that it is quite evident something must be done about the Catholics, which means I suppose concession for his own [illegible] The Duke of Newcastle <13> would recommend the reamendment of all the Penal Laws. <14> I hope by the bye that some Paper you may see will contain the Dukes Letter. it will amuse you (it appeared in the Papers of 23d Sepr) – & shock you at the same Time to think that any man, & particularly a man representing the opinions of a considerable body should have such ideas in these days – my own opinion is that they will do something, but so little & so ungraciously as to be insufficient as to calming the irritation which exists, & that they will turn round on us & say, “see the more we do the more they want & the worse they are” – The Girls will have told you how pleased they were with Kingston Hall <15> & Plymouth & Saltram <16> – They enjoy themselves here very much, & are as fond of Sir Charles <17> as he deserves they should be – for he is kindness itself to them besides being the most amiable man in the world coughs are certainly better since we have had mild westerly winds – but not quite well yet – we leave this the end of the week & go to Lady de Dunstanville <18> for a few days – & then to Melbury & Moreton, <19> at one or other of which places I cannot but hope you will join us <20> – John <21> is not arrived but poor Lady Ilchester <22> is in Town hourly expecting him, & jumps up every Time the bell rings – We thought it possible he might arrive by the Malta Packet at Falmth & your mother wrote him a Line to say we were here – You will have seen that Ld Belmore <23> is named Governor of Jamaica – an appointment which surprizes every one – & must create great dismay in Dorsetshire –

God bless you my dear write soon to your affectionate
C. F.

Here is a charade for you.
Wherever your Fancy takes its flight,
From east to west, from Pole to Pole,
I’m dark, I’m light, I in day, I in Night,
My whole is half, my half is whole –

Monr
Monr Fox Talbot

Switzerland by France
Post restante
Genéve


Notes:

1. Carclew, Cornwall, 3 mi N of Penryn: seat of Sir Charles Lemon.

2. Maria II (1819–1853), House of Bragança, she was only 9 years old, her uncle Miguel acted as Regent until she came of age.

3. People from Falmouth, Cornwall.

4. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m. Talbot (1773 - 12 March 1846), WHFT's mother; Lady Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding (1808-1881); WHFT's half-sister; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1840–1854 & 1863–1865; Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding(1810- 9 Aug 1851), WHFT's half-sister.

5. Princess Charlotte (1744–1817), daughter of George IV.

6. George IV, Prince Regent, later King of England (1762–1830).

7. Eight officers of the royal household, all of noble families, who wait in turn a week each.

8. House of Bragança, English Braganza ruling dynasty of Portugal from 1640 to 1910 and of the empire of Brazil from 1822 to 1889.

9. Pedro I (1798–1834), founder of the Brazilian empire and 1st Emperor of Brazil, (1822–1831), also regarded as King Pedro IV of Portugal.

10. Sedative.

11. He probably means Stratford Canning, Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe (1786–1880), British diplomat.

12. Lord Freemantle was deputy-ranger of Windsor Great Park at this time.

13. Henry Pelham-Clinton, 4th Duke of Newcastle under Lyne (1785–1851).

14. Body of discriminatory and oppressive legislation directed chiefly against Roman Catholics but also against Protestant nonconformists.

15. See Doc. No: 01706.

16. Saltram House, seat of the Earls of Morley.

17. Sir Charles Lemon (1784–1868), politician & scientist; WHFT’s uncle.

18. Harriet, née Lemon (1777–1864), WHFT's aunt. In 1824, she married Francis Basset, 1stBaron de Dunstanville and Basset (1757–1835), MP, FRS, and political writer.

19. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there, and Moreton, Dorset: home of the Frampton family.

20. See Doc. No: 01721.

21. John George Charles Fox Strangways (1803–1859), MP.

22. Juliana Maria Strangways, née Digby, Countess of Ilchester (d. 23 Sep 1842), 2nd wife of Henry Thomas Fox Strangways, 2nd Earl of Ilchester (1747-1802); WHFT's grandmother; 'Grand Mam'.

23. Somerset Lowry-Corry, 2nd Earl Belmore (1774–1841), Governor of Jamaica (1828–1832).