Richmond
Monday 21^st Aug

My dear Henry

Papa ^<1> has complained for some time of pain in his knee, & Saturday M^r Cutler ^<2> saw a fresh swelling just above it, which made him anxious to have Brodie’s ^<3> opinion & he brought him here yesterday – He thought there was another abscess forming there (which M^r Cutler had feared also) but would not pronounce quite positively yet At any rate he said it was not advanced enough to do anything to it now, which was a great relief to Papa who was very much frightened at the sight of him & the idea of another operation. They both agree that the only treatment for the present is to nourish & strengthten him as much as possible, which is very difficult as eating is so disagreeable to him – Today he is very weak but M^r C. says he is not worse essentially – nor better M^r Bowling ^<4> sleeps in the house, which is a great comfort he was going to Nice Wednesday but has put off his journey on our account. Mama ^<5> seems very low to-day – almost more than I have seen her yet. I will write again to-morrow if I have any better news to tell. Give my love to Constance ^<6> I have not spirits to answer her two kind letters just now.

Y^r aff^te sister
Horatia

Lord V. ^<7> came here yesterday but is gone back today & goes next Wednesday to Leamington leaving Caroline ^<8> with us which is very nice & kind of him

[envelope:]
H. Fox Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham

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Notes:

1. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.

2. Mr Cutler, Charles Feilding’s physician.

3. Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie (1783–1862), surgeon.

4. Mr Bowling, physician.

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

6. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.

7. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3^rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.

8. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.