Laycock Abbey
March 25th
My dear Henry,
I am very glad you are to be here Wednesday & I hope you will not put off your journey any longer that we may have a little time to enjoy you before we go – Our departure from hence is at last decisively fixed for Easter Monday – Ld Valletort <1> was to have gone to London last Saturday, to sell his horses, buy others, & make final preparations, but has most unluckily had a fit of the gout which has kept him in bed these two days – & I do not know when he will be able to set out – The Baby <2> is very much grown & in great beauty –
Pray bring with you Miss Edgeworth’s Practical Education <3> that I may look it over with Mamma <4> before I go – I do not want something about Men’s Professions by Mr Edgeworth, <5> which is generally sold with it. & bring also that little volume of Moore’s Melodies <6> – I am very glad it is found – Have you seen him in town? I am afraid he is in a bad way about the Irish Bill <7> –
Addio caro fratellino <8> –
Yr affte
Caroline
M. P.
Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
31 Sackville Street
London
Notes:
1. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
2. William Henry Edgcumbe, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832-1917); 'Val'; JP & Lord Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT's nephew 'Bimbo'.
3. Maria Edgeworth, Essays on practical education (London: Simpkin and Marshall, 1822).
4. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
5. Richard Lovell Edgeworth, Essays on professional education (London: 1812).
6. Thomas Moore’s major poetic work Irish Melodies. [See Doc. No: 02148].
7. She probably refers to the Irish Reform Bill that took place in August 1832. [See Doc. No: 02396].
8. Goodbye dear brother.
9. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.