Laycock Abbey
15th Decr
My Dear Henry
It is not too late because it is tomorrow that Mr Bridges <1> dines here & to Syria he goes in January.
I suppose tho’ you are so near you have not heard of poor Harriet Gallwey’s <2> death, which happened in the night of Saturday. I had a letter from Sir W. <3> this morning to notify the event to this part of the family. She was quite unconscious the last week & did not suffer, but poor Louisa is quite worn out.
Lord Lansdowne <4> returned to Bowood <5> last night & came here to lunch to day. He was very gay & told us many amusing anecdotes relating to the new Administration, which is hérissée de difficultés <6> & he seems to think will never be formed. He goes back to town tomorrow. The excitement seemed to have done him worlds of good. He complains he is never invited here! that is certainly very true.
The Morning Post is frantic. it amused us much.
The Children are getting up a Charade. Valletort & Charlie <7> are used to it, but yours had not a notion of such a thing. It is a great pity they cannot be longer together, they would be very well amused.
We have asked Mr Bowerbank <8> to accompany his friend Mr Bridges tomorrow. I am glad you say he is agreeable as he is to be our Pastor, & we are to be his Ouaille. the others are Lord Dunkellin & Shelburne. Ly S. <9> is ill. You are now au courant <10> of our proceedings
Ainsi <11>
Adieu
[envelope]
H. Fox Talbot Eqr
31. Sackville Street
London
Notes:
1. Rev George Wilson Bridges (1788–1863), photographer and traveller. [See Doc. No: 05463].
2. Lady Harriet Payne Gallwey (1784-1845), née Quin, widow of Lt Gen Sir William Payne Gallwey, 1st Bart (1759-1831).
3. Sir William Payne Gallwey, 2nd Bart (1807-1881).
4. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.
5. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
6. Bristling with difficulties. [See Doc. No: 05472].
7. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’, and Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.
8. Rev Lewis Bowerbank (1782-1853), curate of St Cyriac's, Lacock, 1846-1847; former Rector of St Catherines, Jamaica, 1823-1843; friend of Rev George Bridges.
9. Ulick Canning De Burgh (1827–1867), Lord Dunkellin; Sir Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, Lord Shelburne, 4th Marquess of Lansdowne (1816–1866), MP and WHFT's cousin, and his second wife, Hon Emily Jane Mercer-Elphinstone-de Flahault, Baroness Nairne (1819-1895).
10. Up to date.
11. So.