Melbury – <1>
7 December
My dear Henry
I am very uncomfortable and fidgetty at not being now at Lacock fearing you may be annoyed – In making my decision however it can only be my judgement which has erred for of course my inclination would have led me the other way – I make indeed a great sacrifice in doing what I though on the whole was for the best – the object of my letter however is not to say this but to beg you to let me hear the result of the election <2> in which Horatia, <3> <sic> & I are so much interested the moment it is over – I do want to know when you expect the settlements will be ready, or rather when you suppose the marriage will take Place, & where. Your Aunt Harriet <4> told me Mr Mundy <5> has a horror of Derbyshire for the winter, & that it had been his intention to pass the winter at Southampton but she supposed that having come to London for the wedding cloaths &ca, they would not get him out <illegible deletion> again – In this case I conclude the wedding will be there – My reason for wishing to know your Plans as soon as they are settled is that your Uncle Ilchester <6> is possibly coming to visit us, & your Aunt Harriet certainly – I do not think their visits can by any chance clash with any arrangement you are likely to make, for your election over, you will naturally want to be married as soon as you can – & neither Ilchester or Harriet could leave Dorsetshire till after Xmas –
Your affectionate
C. F.
P.S. It would save much Trouble in the Stable & be of advantage to your 2 Ponys if you would have them clipped. The village Barber would do them as he does mine – the 2 for something more than a Guinea or perhaps your Groom could do it If Constance <7> is to ride Graphy till you can find something prettier for her – he would look all the smarter for having his Hair dressed –W. H. F. Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.
2. See Doc. No: 02517.
3. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
4. Lady Harriet Frampton, née Fox Strangways (d. 1844) .
5. Francis Mundy (1771–1837), politician and father of Constance Talbot.
6. Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).
7. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.