Sackville St <1>
Novr 27th
My dearest Henry
My first letter I wrote to Horatia, comme de droit; <2> I inscribe this, my very next to you, to congratulate you upon your present happiness & future prospects – though I have never even seen Constance, <3> I have too good an opinion of your taste & judgement not to believe her entirely worthy of you & capable of making you as happy as you deserve, which I hope with all my heart she may long continue to do – & I am sure she will find in you the kindest of husbands as you have always been the best of sons & brothers – I am delighted to hear we are to see you so soon & I hope very much to see Constance & make acquaintance with her before we leave town, which I suppose will be in a fortnight or three weeks –
Ld Lansdowne <4> has consented in the most amiable manner to be Godfather with the King, <5> & Lady Suffield <6> is to be Godmother – My Baby <7> is quite well & grows à vue d’œil <8> – I have been down stairs twice & have some hopes of going out in the carriage this week, if the weather is tolerable –
Aunt Louisa <9> & Lord Lansdowne arrived Sunday from Paris – she came to see me yesterday – I never saw her so animated – she set off this morning to Bowood <10> for Kerry’s <11> election –
Addio carissimo fratello mio <12>
Ever your most affte sister
Caroline
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot
Markeaton
Derby
Notes:
1. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT
2. As of right.
3. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
4. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.
5. William IV (1765–1837), King of England (1830–1837).
6. Probably Emily, wife of Edward Harbord, 3rd Baron Suffield. [See Doc. No: 02470].
7. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
8. In front of your very eyes.
9. 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.
10. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne
11. William Thomas Fitzmaurice, Earl of Kerry (1811–1836), MP.
12. Good bye my dearest brother
13. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.
14. Keep well.