L. Abbey
Sunday
My dear Henry
There is a packet arrived for you this morning from Malta by the Galatea, & forwarded by Mr Traherne. <1> I conjecture it to consist of pictures <2> – do you wish it to be kept till your return? –
Caroline <3> talks of setting out on Tuesday or Wednesday – sleeping on the road – & arriving at Bath the 2d day – They are to remain there two days with Ld Mt E. <4> – therefore we calculate on their being here on Friday or Saturday – probably the latter day – for 2 nights only.
You will come of course in time to meet C? – and if Mlle Amélina <5> arrives about the same time, the réunion will be charming –
We wished for you extremely yesterday in a beautiful field of orchids discovered by Ela <6> – the weather has been perfect both for driving & walking – and Horatia <7> drove yesterday which she has not done before, without an object – Today we have had a great many thunder showers with hail –
Your affectionate
Constance.
Notes:
1. Rev John Montgomerie Traherne (1788–1860), JP & author.
2. Talbotypes by Rev Calvert Richard Jones (1802–1877), Welsh painter & photographer. (See Doc. No: 05646).
3. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
4. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
5. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
6. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
7. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.