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Document number: 04116
Date: Wed 29 Jul 1840
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: TALBOT Constance, née Mundy
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA40-60
Last updated: 21st December 2010

Lacock –
Wednesday July 29 –

My dear Henry

Mr Awdry <1> was here this morning enquiring for you – but he said his business was not pressing & could wait your return. – You have a lovely sun today for Oxford – & I expect on your return to see wonderful pictures of all those beautiful buildings which I know only from description. – My Brother & Harriot <2> left us yesterday – without seeing Lady Lansdowne, <3> which vexed H. very much – but the Assizes coming on at Derby so soon as next Monday, my Brother was obliged to go. – They enjoyed their visit very much – & the weather on the whole was fine. – I took him through Mr Sotheron’s <4> grounds & up to the house on Sat – & came home in a heavy shower – & on Sunday I [llegible]Ht & him through the Dormitories &c & a walk in the garden with my Brother afterwards. – and on Monday I took him to your young plantation on the hill, with which & the view over Bowood woods, Bremhill &c he was greatly pleased. – The day was very hot & the walk was a long one, but I enjoyed it very much, & was not so tired as I might have expected. –

I am rather expecting to see Mrs Moore <5> today as she wrote yesterday to propose coming if she was able – so it is uncertain; but as she comes alone, she will p not put us out of our way as to anything like preparation for receiving her. – The chicks <6> are blooming as usual –

Yr affte
Constance –

Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Post Office
Oxford

Notes:

1. West Awdry (1807–1892), solicitor, Chippenham.

2. William Mundy (1801-1877), politician, WHFT’s brother-in-law and his wife, Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.

3. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), wife of Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838; WHFT's aunt.

4. Thomas Henry Sutton Sotheron Bucknall Estcourt (1801–1876), MP.

5. Elizabeth (Bessie) Moore, née Dyke (1783–1865), wife of the poet Thomas Moore.

6. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter, Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter and Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.