Sackville Street <1>
Decr 3rd 1830
My Dear Henry
I did not write before, because Mamma <2> was so very exact in writing every day, that I thought I should have nothing left to tell you. The only news I have today is the appointment of William Ashley <3> to be Vice Chamberlain to the Queen, to the great disappointment of Lady Ilchester, <4> who thought Uncle John <5> might had had it, if it had been known of in time, & the violent indignation of all the Whigs, particularly Aunt Louisa. <6> They think it a great shame that Ld Melbourne <7> should have given any thing to the son of a tory, & such a tory as Ld Shafesbury <8>! I think it very hard too upon Uncle John; as it is only £600 a year, it is just a sort of thing that might have been asked for; but somehow they never think of asking in time, but allow all the other greedy & hungry people to snap up every thing first. John is now at Melbury, <9> helping Uncle Harry <10> – things are quiet in the immediate neighbourhood; they have taken several prisoners at Castle hill near Mintern [sic]; Ld Corry <11> has also gone to assist in the defence. Moreton is bricked & barred up & barricaded in every possible way, garrisoned with 12 militia, & Stores of brickbats & other missiles collected in the garrets, to be hurled by Aunt Harriot <12> on the heads of the assailants. – Louisa Frampton, Theresa, Caroline & Elbelle <13> are in Burlington St <14> – Have you heard that Mr Neeld <15> is going to marry Lady Caroline Ashley? <16> how delighted Ld S. <17> will be, to get a place for his son, & rid of his daughter at the same time. C’est trop de bonheur pour ce vieux Harpagon. <18>
We had a very amusing soirée the other day at Lady Dudley Stuart’s; <19> acting tableaux, singing, dancing, an improvisatore, the Tripolitan Envoy, Sidi Rey [text missing] Omar, &c &c. – I hear the tumults have [illegible]<20> Leicestershire. – We all approve extremely your proclamation – Uncle William <21> wishes you would send one into Dorsetshire as a hint. – Addio, carissimo fratello, <22> pray answer me –
yr affte Sister
Caroline
Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts
Notes:
1. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT
2. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
3. He was Vice Chamberlain from 1830 to 1837, and Treasurer from 1834 to 1837.
4. Juliana Maria Strangways, née Digby (d. 1842).
5. John George Charles Fox Strangways (1803–1859), MP.
6. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), wife of Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838; WHFT's aunt.
7. William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne (1779–1848).
8. She means Anthony Ashley Cooper Shaftesbury, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury (1801–1885), philanthropist.
9. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.
10. Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).
11. Armar Lowry-Corry (1801-1845), Viscount Corry until 1841, then 3rd Earl Belmore.
12. Lady Harriet Frampton, née Fox Strangways (d. 1844) .
13. Louisa Charlotte Frampton, Theresa Anna Maria Digby, née Fox Strangways (1814–1874), WHFT’s cousin. Elbelle was governess to Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe.
14. 31 Burlington Street, London home of William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways.
15. Joseph Neeld (1789–1856), MP & botanist, Conservative MP for Chippenham from 1830 to 1856.
16. Lady Caroline Mary Ashley Cooper (1797–1869). She married Neeld on 1 January 1831.
17. The 6th Earl of Shaftesbury.
18. It’s too much good fortune for this old Scrooge.
19. Lady Christine Dudley Coutts-Stuart, née Bonaparte (1798–1847).
20. Seal damage.
21. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.
22. Goodbye, dearest brother.
23. Henry John George Herbert, Lord Porchester, later 3rd Earl of Carnarvon (1800–1849).
24. Isabella Catherine Franklen, née Talbot (1804–1874).