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Document number: 02799
Date: Sun 09 Feb 1834
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: TALBOT Constance, née Mundy
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA34-2
Last updated: 13th March 2012

Lacock Abbey
Feb 9th 1834
Sunday

My dear Henry

The moment after you left me on Friday I put on my bonnet & walked round & round the garden at least a dozen times, trying to shake off my tristesse. <1> – Though I felt very sad then, & indeed during all the rest of the day, still I never enjoyed a walk at Lacock quite so much. – The sun was so warm, the air so fresh, & the birds were singing so sweetly – I never saw everything look so nice, & I quite pitied you, being obliged to leave the country on such a day. – but I suppose it was not quite wasted upon you, though you were shut up in a Coach. – How disagreeable to be received by a fog! today it has reached us accompanied by a slight frost. – Lady Elisabeth <2> & I are just come from Bowood <3> where we went to church. I confess I like Mr ––, (I forget his name already) much better than Mr Matthews, <4> and the little chapel is so quiet & nice. – Lady Louisa <5> shewed me various parts of the house which I had not seen before. –

Will you frank the enclosed for me to Harriot, <6> at Moreton? <7> – it is to enquire about a Maid who is leaving Mrs Henry Frampton. <8> – Mrs Gwynne <9> has some idea that Lydia Prior may have engaged herself, but if it should prove otherwise, I think I shall decide in favor of her.

I was quite sorry you were not at the House to hear the curious discussion on Wednesday, it must have been amusing: but you will be in time for the sequel on Monday. – pray tell us all about it. – Adieu dear Henry, I have not time for more today. – think of me sometimes & believe me

Yr affecte
Constance

It was so good of you to write to me from [illegible deletion] Newbury – your commission respecting old Marehout shall be remembered, but yesterday it rained too much for me to stir out of the house. –

Henry Fox Talbot Esqre M.P.
31 Sackville Street
London

Notes:

1. Sadness.

2. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.

3. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.

4. Rev John Matthews, curate of Lacock, ca. 1850.

5. Louisa Howard, née Fitzmaurice (d. 1906), daughter of Lady Louisa Emma Fitzmaurice.

6. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.

7. Charlotte, née Blencowe, of Dawlish, wife of Henry Frampton (1804-1879).

8. Moreton, Dorset: home of the Frampton family.

9. Mrs Gwynne (d. winter 1841/1842), lady’s maid, cook and housekeeper to Elisabeth Feilding.