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Document number: 07957
Date: Sun 18 Sep 1859
Dating: year confirmed by Blondine feat
Postmark: Windermere 18 Sep 1859
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: TALBOT Rosamond Constance
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: Acc no 21087 (envelope only)
Last updated: 7th February 2015

Rothay Bank. <1>
Sunday.

My dear Papa,

I want very much to know what you have made up your mind to believe about this extraordinary Blondin <2> story. Is it possible that so many detailed accounts should have been suffered to appear one after another, and not a single person of all the thousands said to have witnessed the feats, should have arisen to deny it if untrue? – And now the letter from Niagara declaring it all a hoax, is replied to by a man at Manchester stating he was an eyewitness – Though America is such a renowned country for stories, this really surpasses all one has ever heard of before. How sadly full of accidents the papers have been lately: poor Mr Griffin at Bath, with whom Wilkins <3> has always had so much dealing, what a melancholy end! – and the next day contained accounts of that dreadful collision at Hitchin g in which poor Professor Kelland <4> seems to have been one of the greatest sufferers. Mama <5> is going to try and procure news of him, as we are very anxious to hear how he is getting on. Of course a strict enquiry will be instituted, for on this occasion the carelessness of the signal-man seems to have been unpardonable, and the sole cause of the accident. – Yesterday Mr Wake came over to see us, and we did the honours of Easedale which he had never seen; for you ca’nt imagine how ignorant the Keswick people are of all this part of the country; they content themselves with passing along the high road on their way to and from the Station and see nothing more; – except however Mr Spedding, <6> who seems to know every nook everywhere. He told us the railway from Keswick <7> to Cockermouth, (which at any rate will not be begun for some time) is now most likely to be made on the other or west side of Bassenthwaite terminating at Portinscale: – and so leaving poor Mirehouse, Greta Bank <8> and Ormathwaite in comparative peace and quietness. But what a blemish it will be, however managed, and moreover they say it can never pay. They have had a grand ball at Greta Bank, and parties and picnics (rain not preventing) without end: which make us rejoice we are not nearer in their neighbourhood, as we could not have Kept quite clear of them, and were not by any means inclined for such a life of bustle. Sir John Woodford <9> has promised us a visit some of these days, as he missed meeting Mama when she went over with Ela <10> and Charles; <11> – I have not been to Keswick yet, owing to the very stormy and unsettled weather, but now there is some improvement I hope I may accomplish it. Yesterday was lovely, and we have had some splendid moonlight nights, but today gloomy again with a thick drizzling mist. It is however, I think, but a local cloud, attracted by the mountains. The trees are already turning colour, and the hills assuming their autumnal tints; – and for some time back we have quite regularly taken to fires. I am so sorry you have such a bad cold, but I am afraid you let the house grow cold and damp before ordering your fire. Tilly <12> writes that it has become quite cold and wintry. You have heard of our proposed visit to Speddoch, <13>and how very much she wishes us not to miss this opportunity of getting acquainted with her home? – But poor Mamie <14> has been much too unwell to undertake the journey hitherto; yesterday she was unable to leave her room to see Mr Wake, and for some time she has been quite confined to the house, and though now better she gets on very slowly: so, though we are all very anxious to get home again, and not to leave you, poor Papa, any longer by yourself, would it not be better, as Mama proposes, to delay our return another week or so rather than put off poor Speddoch altogether to the uncertain future? – I know you are so Kind in always wishing what gives us pleasure, and it would be a real disappointment to poor Tilly should we go away without paying the promised visit. – Charles writes flourishing accounts of Whorlton and the neighbouring scenery, and seems very happy in y his new abode and in good spirits. So I really hope he will do well there. <15> – Mama, I find is writing also, so I ought not to have wearied you with such a long letter; but remember we are anxious to hear that you have nursed your cold away; please write soon,

and believe me your affectionate daughter
Rosamond.

[envelope:]
H. Fox Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts.


Notes:

1. Grasmere, Westmoreland: popular summer venue; Wordsworth is buried there.

2. Pseudonym of Jean-François Gravelot (1824–1897), French acrobat, renowned for his daring feats of crossing Niagara Falls on a tightrope in 1859 and 1860.

3. George Wilkins (b. 1814), gardener at Lacock.

4. Prof Philip Kelland (1808–1879), Scottish mathematician.

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

6. John James Spedding (1834-1909), JP.

7. Keswick, Cumberland.

8. Greta Bank, Cumberland, near Keswick.

9. Sir John George Woodford (1785–1879), Major General. His distinguished military career included serving as aide-de-camp to Wellington at Waterloo in 1815. Between 1821 and 1837, when he retired, he successfully campaigned for wide-ranging reforms within the army, from the systems of military discipline and purchase of commissions, to recreational provision.

10. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.

11. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.

12. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.

13. Speddoch, Dumfriesshire, 10 mi NW of Dumfries: home of WHFT’s daughter Matilda.

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

15. He was being tutored by Rev Arthur William Headlam (1826–1909), clergy. [See Doc. No: 07908.]