London
Wednesday
Aug. 16th
My dear Henry
You will be glad to hear that Caroline has got a daughter, <1> born this morning at 12 o’clock – I have seen her since for a few moments, & she seems wonderfully well & in good spirits. We are all delighted at its being a girl Ld Mt E. <2> especially – there never was a young lady better received. She hardly expected it so soon, for Mrs Wilks <3> was only installée last night – I will let you know tomorrow how she is going on Love to Constance <4> I am sure she will be quite of our opinion about a niece
Yr aff sister
Horatia
Your letter to Mama <5> about poor Nanny was so kind I was quite touchée <6> – It is a great comfort to me to think she was so happy at Lacock for 6 weeks, & I shall feel ever grateful to Constance whose kind idea it was –
[envelope]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Laycock Abbey
chippenham
Notes:
1. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister and her daughter Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.
2. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
3. Nurse.
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. Touched, moved.