Laycock Abbey
11th April <1>
My dear Henry
I enclose <2> you a paragraph which may be interesting to you, as I suppose you have not done with Patents in France. How very seldom one receives a piece of unalloyed good news! Yours of this morning is entirely so. I shall always like M. Claudet, <3> & patronise him with all my friends. Probably he is glad of a new home, it is more attractive to the multitude, & I think will answer to him & please all your real friends, all those who really care about you & your fame
I had a letter from Caroline <4> to day from Chudleigh, with not a very good account of Valletort. <5> They made 3 days of the journey not to fatigue him. C. told me that Sara <6> was toute ébahie <7> at the sight of her in Sackville Street <8> & she seemed to be the best thing expected there & no wonder.
I hope Wright <9> will not be in your way, dusting the books &c &c I believe the Dining room is ready in case you retreat into it.
affly Yrs
E F
Notes:
1. Several items point to an 1843 dating. Claudet opened a second studio at 18 King William Street, off the Strand. He was then in the process of coming to an agreement with WHFT to use the calotype. And WHFT was considering a patent of the calotype in France.
2. No enclosure.
3. Antoine Françoise Jean Claudet (1797-1867), London; French-born scientist, merchant & photographer, resident in London.
4. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808-1881); WHFT's half-sister.
5. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797-1861), WHFT's brother-in-law.
6. Probably Mrs Sarah Henneman, first m Price ( ca.1811-1848), housemaid at Lacock Abbey.
7. Most astonished.
8. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
9. James Wright, footman to the Talbots & Constable for Lacock.