Moreton <1>
January 1st 1832
My dear Henry
You have not written me a word for a l long time - I want to hear what you are about at Laycock; the only thing I have heard of was from Mr Seymer, <2> who described to me a large tree you had just transplanted in front of the house, & the exact spot - I wish you would put some where I advised you near the canal bridge, just on the rise of the hill - only I think a young plantation would, perhaps suit that place better. - I wrote Horatia <3> a description of the Christmas festivities, which I suppose you heard from her, & in return I want an account of the Bowood <4> ball, & from you a description of the one at Chippenham; <5> I hoped you did the civil thing by all your constituents, & danced with all the young ladies, whether pretty or otherwise. -
I had a very pleasant expedition to Lulworth Cove <6> the other day, & another to the burning Cliff <7> 7 miles off; we rode down on the beach close to it; we were not lucky enough to see any flame, but a good deal of smoke & a very disagreeable smell was were emitted from various crevices in the rock; we brought away a specimen for the museum; the bay where it is situated is extremely pretty, quiet & sheltered by a very high, precipitous cliff - the sea was blue & unruffled. - I wrote to Mamma <8> yesterday, with a message to you, which I now renew en personne, <9> wishing you a very happy new year & many of them - Fais aussi mes complimens de nouvelle année à Mr Montgomerie que j'avais oublié dans ma dernière. <10>
Addio fratello carissimo <11>
Yr affte Sister
Caroline Valletort
Dorchester Jany two 1832 Valletort <14>
Henry Talbot Esqr
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Moreton, Dorset: home of the Frampton family.
2. Henry Ker Seymer (1782-1834), JP, MP & High Sheriff of Dorset.
3. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810-1851), WHFT's half-sister.
4. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
5. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
6. Dorset. A striking example of marine erosion which has formed a circular bay with chalk cliffs. This continues to be a very popular site for tourists.
7. This oil-shale fire, near Weymouth, is said to have commenced in 1826 and continued burning throughout much of the mid-19th century. The smoke that emanated from this did indeed have an unpleasant sulphurous odour to it.
8. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773-1846), WHFT's mother.
9. Personally.
10. Give Mr Montgomerie too my new year compliments which I forgot in my last letter. Rev George Stephen Molyneux Montgomerie (1790-1850), close friend of Talbot family, artist, Rector of Garboldisham, near Thetford, Norfolk.
11. Good bye dearest brother.
12. Sir Charles Lemon (1784-1868), politician & scientist; WHFT's uncle
13. Text torn away under seal.
14. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797-1861), WHFT's brother-in-law.