Markeaton, <1>
Monday 19th Novr 1832
My Dear Mother
I stopped Friday night at Dunstable 35 miles from Town, at a very comfortable civil inn called the Sugarloaf. On Saturday I set off at six oclock in the morning, it was then bright starlight with a very brilliant crescent Moon. I breakfasted at Stony Stratford – The day was fine, but fog came on at four o’clock and grew more thick as the evening advanced. The last 29 miles from Leicester here it was so intense that it was with difficulty I found my way through the palpable obscure, <2> the carriage lamps showed nothing beyond the distance of 2 or 3 yards. – owing to this hindrance I did not arrive here till dinner was over, notwithstanding my early start. The weather still continues very foggy and winterish.
Constance <3> was delighted with your Sévigné <4> and with Mr F’s <5> necklace, & still more with your kindness in sending it. She is become more amiable than ever. I must say her sisters are very goodnatured persons, they show it in a hundred little things – Mrs Mundy <6> has resolved to come up to Town, partly because she says nothing is to be had at Derby and also because she wishes to avoid the election (fearing some repetition of the tumults of last year) and as they generally come up to Town about Christmas it will only be anticipating a little. I expect they will stay here however a fortnight longer. Mr M’s <7> solicitor lives at Derby, therefore I must ask King <8> to come down hither in a day or two.
Your affectionate Son
Henry
Tell Caroline <9> there is a probability of my returning to Town in a fortnight.
I have not given C. your ring yet.
P.S. Novr 20th
I have just received your last kind letter – the book that is come for me should be taken care of, it belongs to a set that is at Lacock.
We are just going to drive to Wellington to see Harriet. <10>
Lady E. Feilding
Notes:
1. Markeaton Hall, Derbyshire, NW of Derby: home of the Mundy family.
2. Paradise Lost, book ii, lines 404–407.
3. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
4. Sevigne Bow, bow, often a brooch.
5. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
6. Sarah Leaper Mundy, née Newton (d. 1836), WHFT’s mother in law.
7. Francis Mundy (1771–1837), politician and father of Constance Talbot.
8. Probably William Read King, solicitor, London. [See Doc. No: 02451].
9. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
10. Lady Harriot Louisa Frampton, née Fox Strangways (1778-1844.