Dogmersfield <1>
Sunday 11th Sepr
My dear Henry
I reckon you will get this several hours before you see us & therefore write to say we fully intend to be at L– Abbey on Tuesday as we settled, but what hour I know not, as it is more than 60 miles, but they say a very good road. We found here Brook Greville, Mr & Mrs Paulet Mildmay, <2> Mr Grenfell, & the Captain. The Radnors <3> are coming the very day we go. I should like to have staid longer, if it had not been for you & Amandier. <4> Pray tell her I received her letter this Morning & should have thought her very foolish if she had not come on when her place was taken & all arrangements made. Probably the change of air will have great effect. Tomorrow we are going to see Stratfield Saye. <5> I have been talking over Nice with the Paulet Mildmays, they both say it was about the happiest six months they ever passed.
Adieu
I hope you wont leave home the very next morning[envelope]
H:Bridge, Septr eleven 1831
Henry Fox Talbot Esq
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
[postmark verso: Harfordbridge]
Notes:
1. The family seat of the Mildmays.
2. Paulet St John-Mildmay (1791–1845), and his wife Anna Maria St John-Mildmay (d. 1864).
3. William Pleydell Bouverie, 3rd Earl of Radnor (1779–1869), Whig politician; and his 2nd wife, Judith Anne, née St. John-Mildmay (1790-1851).
4. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
5. Stratfield Saye House, home to the Dukes of Wellington since 1817.