Florence.
28 May
My dearest Henry
I have two letters & a half to thank you for – & that is the principal object of my writing – for I have not much to tell you of our goings on which are very tranquil – & uniform except that I have made an excursion to Lucca Baths, Via Reggio & Leghorn &c looking for a house in case the heat should be too great for us to stay here. I have however found nothing that I like – & am in Treaty for a house here which is quite delightful & very cool large enough for us all & as many more. Ld & Lady Wm Russell <1> inhabit it now & it will be to be had about the time you are all coming out. – I intend to secure it for August & September if I can, & shall remain where we are till that time – I conclude you will not be here before the 1st Aug. I hope you will have recollected to give me some plan of your journey out that you may find letters on the road – supposing you will leave London by the 25 June or thereabouts I shall not direct there after the 15 June The letters are I believe a fortnight going but I shall be of course guided by what I hear after you get there to London –
I cannot tell you my love how vexed I am at the house not letting – more I think at your loss than I should at my own – when I accepted your offer I thought it possible you would have to pay 200– but I never calculated on its not letting at all – however we can talk this all over when you return – & I must again beg of you not to pay more to Stilwell <2> than is perfectly convenient to you – you might do at another time what would be inconvenient now. I hope you understand my wishes & feelings – what you do pay Stilwell desire him if you please to buy into the 4 pr Cts – If I knew a little more the state of your Bankers book I should perhaps have less repugnance – perhaps more – in short I put myself in your hands with the confidence that you will not deceive me – & make yourself uncomfortable from a shyness in acknowledging (if it is so) that you have more demands than you had calculated on – I am delighted to find that you were more amused at the Plays than you were used to be. I think it a great misfortune not to enjoy the theatre – it is a most rational & innocent amusement – Your Journey seems to have altogether been prosperous & I think your return, if your weather is what it most likely will [sic] – still more agreeable. I envy you the Rhine & Tyrol. – God bless you – write soon
yr aff
C. F.
Henry Talbot Esqre
Notes:
1. Lord William Russell (1800-1884) and his wife, Lady Emma, née Campbell (d. 1886).
2. Of Stilwell & Co, naval agents, London. As a retired Admiral, Feilding would have used such specialized attorneys for financial matters.