London
9. Nov^r 1841

My dear Mother

I intend to take the 2 o’clock train, so if the horse is well I wish the Coburg to meet me at Chippenham ^<1> at ½ past 5. The newspapers will tell you all about the birth of the Prince of Wales ^<2> – I don’t recollect any having been born for the last 79 years.

Your aff^te
Henry

W^{m <3>} is come back to Frankfort & has forwarded your letters to Harriet, ^<4> who is at Florence.

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Notes:

1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.

2. Edward VII (1841–1910), King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British dominions and Emperor of India from 1901. He was born on 9 November 1841. He was the eldest son of Queen Victoria and was created prince of Wales and earl of Chester when he was one month old.

3. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4^th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.

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