London
July 31st
Enrico carissimo <1>
Our departure is put off once more to the 5th as Papa <2> intends staying for the Levee <3> on Wednesday, his new uniform not having been made in time for the others. The news from Paris today is very confused & uncertain I hope it is not true 1000 people were killed <4> in the streets. Some people are setting off to Paris to see the fun – I am dying to know how it will all end, but I am afraid it will be very difficult to get any clear account of what is going on, as the newspapers are suppressed & all letters opened.
The season has ended with more spirit than it began – This week has been particularly gay – Monday there was a bal paré <5> at Apsley house in honor of the King of Wurtemberg <6> – Tuesday a breakfast at Perey’s Cross for children, very pretty indeed – Thursday a ball at Lady Keith’s – & yesterday one at Lord Hertford’s, <7> who for once had a beautiful night for it – all the garden was lit with colored lamps & exceedingly pretty.
Today we are going to a fête on board the Nautilus at Greenwich – which will I suppose be positively the last thing given this year. The weather has been oppressively hot for this week here – I t hope it will not change before we get to Laycock – it will be delicious to drink tea in the garden. I was much surprised to hear of Susan’s <8> marriage. – Eliza Hunloke <9> is delighted at the revolution in France, as she thinks they will be obliged to stay here, but Lady H. <10> is very uneasy for fear her cottage at Meudon should be confiscated.
Addio fratello caro <11> –
your affte sister
Horatia
I think <14> we shall really be at Laycock the Night of this Thursday 5th
Henry Fox Talbot Esq
Notes:
1. Dear Henry.
2. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
3. A reception with the King. [See Doc. No: 02033].
4. A reference to the July Revolution in France in 1830.
5. A full-dress party.
6. William I (1781–1864), King of Württemberg (1816–1864).
7. Francis Charles Seymour-Ingram, 3rd Marquess of Hertford (1777–1842).
8. Possibly a daughter of the Rev Charles Strangways, uncle of Lady Elisabeth Feilding.
9. Eliza Hunloke, daughter of the Lady Ann Hunloke.
10. Lady Anne Hunloke, née Eccleston (1788–1872); after 1860, known as Lady Anne Scarisbrick.
11. Goodbye dear brother.
12. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
13. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.
14. Continues in Lady Elisabeth Feilding’s hand.