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Document number: 2449
Date: Wed 31 Oct 1832
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: EDGCUMBE Caroline Augusta, née Feilding
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Last updated: 8th March 2012

Sackville Street <1>
Wednesday Octr 31st

My dear Henry

To my great amazement the other day, I found Mamma <2> had despatched to you an unfinished letter of mine, <3> so that I still owe you half a one. I am afraid you must be very dull at Laycock Abbey all alone, after such a continued round of dissipation – had you not better come here till you know if you can be received at Melbury <4> or Abbotsbury? <5> Papa’s <6> room [illegible deletion] is free, at least for the present; if you like to take the chance of finding it still unoccupied, we should be charmed to have you – there is no bed for Franklin, <7> but I suppose he could get one out. Uncle John <8> is gone to Abbotsbury, to meet Horatia <9> & Papa, who arrived there last Monday – Aunt Mary <10> is gone to Bath – Uncle Harry <11> arrived in town last night – he is looking very well & tanned, which is becoming – I suppose you too are a good deal sunburnt after your peregrinations. I want to know if it was the Comet we saw on the 14th as we were driving into London. It was in a South Easterly direction, & resembled a star surrounded by a mist. It kept continually changing its appearance & shape – sometimes the star was so bright that the mist was no longer visible, & at others the fog grew so thick as completely to obscure the star – if it was not the Comet, what could it be? pray inform me soon –

Yr affte Sister
Caroline

My beau-frère <12> Mr Edgcumbe <13> is arrived from Florence –

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. See Doc. No: 02440.

4. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.

5. Abbotsbury, Dorset: home of William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways.

6. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.

7. Franklin, servant.

8. John George Charles Fox Strangways (1803–1859), MP.

9. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.

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

11. Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).

12. Brother-in-law.

13. George Edgcumbe (1800–1882), son of the 2nd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe.

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