Christchurch
Tuesday 26th
My dear Henry
Thanks for telling me about Avondale house but in spite of its pretty name the idea of being close to the high road we ne nous souriait pas <1> - Today Mrs Gaisford <2> had a letter from some friend of hers in those parts who had heard we were thinking of taking a place in that neighbourhood telling her that Hinton Abbey was to be let for a year from Midsummer, & probably for as much longer as we might wish. I rather like the notion of living in Ela's other Abbey<3> tho' I fear it is very unlike Laycock & that there is not much of her handiwork remaining. I wish we had heard of it when we were there & might have gone to see it. I was so glad to hear C. <4> had a satisfactory account of Charles <5> fm Mr Williams at last - I think on the whole you did quite right in sending him there & trust it will turn out well. Mr Gaisford wants to know if you have done anything about the Power of attorney he asked you about & if not he thinks he can get one himself from the Banker & send it to the Trustees - please let me know. There is another great dinner party here today & one Thursday - so we don't go to town till Friday - to Farrances <6> if there is room, as Caroline <7> is there. Addio. Love to all. I hope it is better
Yr aff sister
Horatia
[envelope:]
H.F. Talbot esqre
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts
Notes:
1. We do not relish the idea.
2. Jane Catherine Gaisford, née Jenkyns (1787-1863), 2ndwife of Dr Thomas Gaisford (1779-1855), Dean of Christchurch and Curator of the Bodlein Library. His son by his 1st wife, Helen Margaret, née Douglas (1791-1831), m Capt Thomas Gaisford (1816-1898), JP, married Horatia on 1 January 1850.
3. Hinton Abbey, in Somerset, was founded by Ela (d. 1261), Countess of Salisbury, who also founded the Abbey of Lacock in 1232.
4. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811-1880), WHFT's wife.
5. Charles Henry Talbot (1842-1916), antiquary & WHFT's only son.
6. Farrance's Hotel, Belgrave Street, London.
7. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808-1881); WHFT's half-sister.
8. Thomas Moore (1780-1852), Irish poet.