link to Talbot Project home page link to De Montfort University home page link to Glasgow University home page
Project Director: Professor Larry J Schaaf
 

Back to the letter search >

Document number: 06562
Date: Sat 31 Jan 1852
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: EDGCUMBE Caroline Augusta, née Feilding
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Last updated: 14th March 2012

29 Royal Crescent
Bath

Saturday Jany 31st 1852

My dear Henry

I wish you would let me know how poor Amandier <1> is – for I had a very dim account of her from Constance <2> the other day – which makes me anxious about her – as she says she had an attack of Bronchitis, & had been seriously ill – & as Constance herself is by no means well, I do not want to trouble her to write again.

I wish also to know if any of you are still afraid of seeing any of us – because I might possibly be inspired some fine day to run over to Laycock – [illegible deletion] as it is most likely we shall be leaving this neighbourhood very shortly – & it will be dismal to go quite away without seeing you all again, Valletort <3> went back to Oxford last yesterday week – & Dr Watson<4> said it was perfectly impossible that any of us could give the infection, now, or for this long time past. Pray let me have a positive answer to this question – yes or no. I am glad to hear you are so well, & have got rid of your bad cold. Aunt Mary <5> wrote me word a short time ago that they had been very uneasy about Kit, <6> who had had a violent pleuratic cough – “but at last he allowed the doctor to try some remedies & was quickly cured, but as he thinks he knows more than the faculty, he is a very bad patient.”

I am sure you will all be sorry to hear that Dr Watson lost his wife this morning<7> – though to herself it must have been a great release for she had been suffering dreadfully for a long time – & some time ago he told me that he had never seen anyone alive so emaciated.

I went yesterday to see the Deaf & Dumb & Blind Asylum – with which I was very much pleased – One very intelligent looking Girl about fifteen was both Blind, deaf & dumb – yet she can read write, work & make baskets beautifully. I bought a pair of little Baby’s socks knitted by her in shaded red wools – & when the Mistress gave her to understand that I had bought them, she looked so pleased & made a curtsey.

It is quite curious to see the blind & deaf Children all romping, swinging & playing together – It is a kind of private establishmt at least it is chiefly managed by one lady – & the children all seem so happy & fond of the mistress. One of the Clergyman [sic] of Bath preaches on his fingers to the D. & Dumb Children on Sundays. –

Please write soon – we are all pretty well except Milord <8> – who is suffering much as usual

Yr affte Sister
Caroline

Love to all – I had a delightful account of little Horace <9> lately – He now plays with the rattle I gave him – & is in short petticoats.

Notes:

1. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].

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

3. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.

4. Dr James Watson (1792-1878), a Scottish-born doctor, practising in Bath and resident at 13, The Circus.

5. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776–1855), WHFT’s aunt.

6. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.

7. Harriet Watson (1797- 31 January 1852.

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

9. Lt Horace Charles Gaisford (1851–1879), WHFT’s nephew.