Laycock Abbey
March 12th
My dear Henry
Amongst the books belonging to me that you brought to the Burlington Hotel, <1> there is one which I did not miss at the time, but which I have bethought me since did not make its appearance with the others – I wish you would look for it carefully in the drawing-room, & if it is not there, pray ask Fanny <2> if it was left up stairs by mistake – car j’y tiens beaucoup <3> – it is a beautiful little volume of Moore’s Irish Melodies, <4> bound in white & gold, & given me as a wedding present by Mrs Moore <5> – it is in a brown holland case –pray write me word whether you find it or not – if you do, pray bring it here when you come – I hope that will be soon – we expect Amandier <6> Thursday evening – my garden is very flourishing, but it is so bitter cold there is no doing anything –
I found my Baby <7> improved & grown far beyond what I had expected, & so good & pretty! there never was any thing like Mamma’s <8> care & tenderness for him! I am afraid she will be unhappy when he leaves her – She desires me to beg you will send the accompanying letter to Somerset Street, by the twopenny post, if inconvenient otherwise –
Addio fratello carissimo bacio le mani alla Cognata e di lei ho l’onore di segnarmi con tutta la stima l’umilissima e devotissima <9>
Carolina
Notes:
1. Cork Street, London.
2. Servant.
3. As it means very much to me.
4. Thomas Moore’s major poetic work Irish Melodies.
5. Elizabeth (Bessie) Moore, née Dyke (1783–1865), wife of the poet Thomas Moore.
6. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
7. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
8. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
9. Good bye dearest brother, I kiss your hands and those of my sister-in-law and I am honoured to declare myself your most humble and devoted