Brighton
Jany 6th 1831
My dear Henry
I think Brighton is growing a little gayer. We had a very pleasant dinner-party Monday, consisting of Lord & Lady Lyndhurst, Mrs Norton, Mrs Methuen, Mr Lambton Mr Lowther, <1> Lord Arthur Hervey & Mr Clarence Pigon, & some people in the evening - the Montagus, Mr Shelley, Henry Fox <2> & the Miss Gents who sung [sic]. Mrs Norton also sang a great many of her own compositions some comic & extremely amusing. Tuesday we went to a party at the Pavilion, which I expected would be very dull but was agreeably disappointed. The rooms are beautiful particularly the large music room, in which we danced, it is quite like a fairy palace. We were presented to the Queen by Lady Mayo, <3> who was the Lady in waiting, & kissed her Majesty's hand. As for the King, <4> while we were deliberating how we should accomplish our presentation to him, he suddenly came across the room & talked to Mama for some time in the most gracious manner. About 11 the Queen retired, walking hand in hand with the Landgravin & followed by all the Ladies & Maids of honor, making quite a procession. There is to be another party there Saturday & a grand ball on the Duke of Sussex's <5> birthday. I had a very nice ride to-day with Papa & Charlotte Butler <6> along the beach to Shoreham I never saw the sea in England so calm as to-day - you could hardly see it move; & there were pretty little vessels sailing about on the blue waves.
Mama <7> has heard from Aunt Harriet - Mrs Mundy <8> is very gay - she has been at the ball at Lady Sophia Gresley's & is k now at Chatsworth, but unluckily cannot shew off her fine dresses as she is still in mourning for the old grandmother, whose death was a most untoward event. Pray write us word if you are at Salisbury & what is going on there. I hear the Court is dreadfully cold & that Lord Lansdowne <9> has caught a very bad cough - do not go & do the same. I am very glad you have begun the good work of moving trees; & that you are going to plant Yonder Heath. - Tell us everything that occurs at Laycock, & whether there
la tua affezionatissima sorella <12>
Orazina <13>
Let us know how the ball at Bowood <14> went off. I should have liked to have been there. We would not go to Almacks <15> last night as we were so disgusted with the first, but it will be better next time as Lady George Seymour <16> is going with a large party - so I suppose we shall too. Fanny Kemble <17> is going to act here to-morrow.
W. H. Fox Talbot Esqre
Laycock Abbey
Notes:
1. John Singleton Copley, Lord Lyndhurst and Sarah Garay Brunsden, Lady Lyndhurst; Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton (1808-1877), poet, novelist; Jane Dorthea Methuen, née Mildmay (1789-1846); possibly John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham (1792-1840); probably Reverend Arthur Charles Hervey (b. 1808), became bishop of Bath and Wells in 1869; the identity of Mr. Lowther is unclear.
2. Probably the family of Lady Caroline Montagu; possibly Sir John Shelley, father of Fanny Lucy Edgcumbe; Henry Edward Fox, 4th Baron Holland and 4th Baron Holland of Foxley (1802-1859).
3. Queen Adelaide (1830-1837) and Arabella, Countess of Mayo, Lady of Bedchamber.
4. William IV (1765-1837), King of England (1830-1837).
5. Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (1773-1843), president of the Royal Society 1830-1838.
6. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780-1837), Royal Navy; WHFT's step-father and Lady Charlotte Talbot, née Butler (1809-1846), wife of CRM Talbot.
7. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773-1846), WHFT's mother.
8. Lady Harriet Frampton, née Fox Strangways (d. 1844) and possibly Sarah Leaper Mundy, née Newton (d. 10 March 1836), WHFT's mother in law.
9. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780-1863), MP, WHFT's uncle.
10. Goodbye brother.
11. Text torn under seal.
12. Your affectionate sister.
13. Horatia.
14. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
15. Almack's Assembly Rooms, founded by William Almack in 1765.
16. Lady Isabella Seymour, née Hamilton.
17. Fanny Kemble (1809-1893), popular actress, daughter of Charles Kemple, actor-manager of the Covent Garden Theatre.