Sackville Street <1>
December 6th
My dear Henry
Thank you for having sent me your address – I think it a remarkably eloquent specimen of chum wa hum <2> & have no doubt it will produce due effect on the Chippenham <3> Electors – I was rather startled by the sudden turn against sudden changes towards the end, & only hope it may not cause as sudden a reaction in the mind of your constituency. – Mamma <4> brought Constance <5> to see me yesterday as you had arranged – she payed me a very short visit & spoke very little, but still I had time to see that her manner was very pleasing, gentle & lady-like, & she herself extremely pretty, a great deal more so than I had expected, as you said very little about her beauty – quant à moi, I can only say I do not think I was repelling, which you seemed so much to apprehend, & certainly Mamma’s manner was remarkably gracious. From Papa’s <6> last letter, it appears he had given up the idea of joining you at Laycock Abbey, thinking the Election was to take place Friday, & that it would not be worth while – but Mamma is writing to him at this moment to re-advise him to go there, & if he agrees to do so at once, he may reach Laycock Saturday evening, & by that means put into execution a plan which we have all been corresponding about, & which Mamma has this instant told me has not yet been communicated to you. Le voici: <7> that your Horatia <8> should accompany you to London as soon as the Election is over, & by that means see the Baby <9> & be present at the Xening <10> – Papa thought of coming too, but I believe has not made up his mind yet – was not this une idée lumineuse? <11> & the expence would be very slight, as Mamma must have post horses to return, whether she goes alone or with Papa & Horatia – It would also save the expence of another journey to London to see me before we go abroad, which Papa had promised; for otherw[ise]<12> Mamma wishes to remain at Laycock Abb[ey] till after Easter. I hope this scheme may succeed – I should like extremely to have you all at the Christening, & Horatia is dying to embrace her nipotino <13> & is very jealous at being the last to see him. Addio carissimo fratello mio <14> – if you have time write me a little word –
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
Notes:
1. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
2. Humbug. [See Doc. No: 01297].
3. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
4. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
5. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
6. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
7. Here it is.
8. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
9. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
10. Christening.
11. A brilliant idea.
12. Text torn away under seal.
13. Little nephew.
14. Good bye my dearest brother.