The Grange
15th Decr 1827
My Dear Horatia
The party here consists of Mr & Mrs Baring, Miss Baring, Miss Louisa Baring <1> and two of their brothers Francis & Frederick, Mr Labouchere Mr & Mrs Humphrey Mildmay, Mr & Mrs Charles Fox. Lord John Russell <2> went away this morning. He seems to say there will be a Christmas party at Bowood <3> which he means to join. The Leitrims <4> were here the other day, they are gone back to Town. I find Francis Baring has been a tour in Italy since I saw him in Town, which is making the most of one’s time between the London season and the country season – This house is very pretty there is a conservatory 80 or 90 feet long & very high an excellent promenade in wet weather, and its façade is copied from the temple of Minerva Polias – There is a double terrace which as well as the gazon <5> is kept in perfect order – Before the house is a piece of water of great extent with a wooded hill behind it, & covered with wild fowl. It looks very well. On Thursday we had a magnificent day, & had good sport shooting, but Friday & today it has rained all day –
Adieu I hope to see you on Wednesday evening –
Your affte Brother
H. TalbotMiss H. FeildingLacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wiltshire
Notes:
1. Probably Alexander Baring, 1st Baron Ashburton (1774–1848), financier & statesman, his wife Anne Louisa Baring, née Bingham (d. 1848), and their relations.
2. Francis Baring, 3rd Baron Ashburton (1800–1868), MP; Rev Frederick Baring (1806–1868); Rt Hon Henry Labouchere, Baron Taunton (1798–1869), politician; the Mildmays were very distantly connected with the Talbots, Sir Anthony Mildmay (d. 1617) having married Grace, daughter of Sir Henry Sharington of Lacock; For Charles Fox see Doc. No: 02131; Lord John Russell (1792–1878), politician.
3. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
4. Nathaniel Clements, 2nd Earl of Leitrim (1768–1854); and his wife, Mary, née Bermingham (d. 1840).
5. Grass lawn.