Sackville St <1>
Wednesday
5th July
My dear Henry
I rejoice to tell you that Papa <2> is going on very well he slept a great deal in the night & in the daytime also which is a very good thing after all the fatigue & suffering he has undergone. – The leg is rather less swelled & not so red as it was, & they hope it is getting slowly well – Of course he is very weak & has many pains & aches still, particularly in his back from laying [sic] so long in the same attitude – for it is now 3 weeks since he was taken ill – but it such [sic] a blessing to see him improving if ever so gradually He seems now as if quite come to himself after having been in a dream all this time just now he asked where is dear Henry? & when we told him you were at Laycock he said I wish somebody would tell him how much I love him – I am too ill to write myself – & then the tears came into my eyes. I was quite attendrie <3> & I am sure you will be when you read this
Adieu love to Constance <4>
yr affte Sister
Horatia
Mama <5> is very much tired & feels the want of sleep & air now more than hitherto – but she is going out presently & now he is better I hope she will get better nights & take care of herself – The 6 maids of honour are Emily Murray, <6> Miss Rice[?], Miss Lister, Miss Cox (Ld Eastnor’s daughter) Miss Cavendish & Miss Pitt. <7>
W. Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts
Notes:
1. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
2. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
3. Melted, overcome.
4. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
5. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
6. Amelia ‘Emily’ Matilda Murray (1795–1884), author.
7. These were for the wedding of Theresa Anna Maria Digby, née Fox Strangways (1814–1874), WHFT’s cousin. On 20 June 1837, she married Edward St. Vincent Digby, 9th Baron Digby of Geashill (1809 –1889).