Sunday
My dear Henry
The ball turned out better than you we we expected. It was exceedingly pretty - we had Collinet on purpose from Paris & a most delicious band of 40 or 50 musicians. The Queen <1> looked better than usual in her diamonds & waltzed with the Prince of Orange. <2> It was not near so crowded as I should have supposed - but there were some most extraordinary figures.02..
We had a very pleasant dinner Thursday Mr & Mrs Norton Charles Fox, Francis Baring - Mr Shelley - Mrs Law - Mr Lowther & Mr Lushington <3> - & in the evg the Gents & Sir E. Dering <4> who sung & some other people. Mrs Ellison told Mama <5> she would be a public loss in Brunswick Terrace - it is very pleasant to be regretted. - Yesterday we went to a soirée at Lady Belfast's <6> - very amusing indeed & very pretty music. The dear Duke was there, & was so gracious as to talk to me! about Harriet Munday <7> who he said was a very nice person & full of information. Addio caro <8> - we shall be at Laycock positively Saturday evening. - To-morrow we are going to Mrs Gent's musical party for a finale - & they mean to sing my duet -
Your affte sister
Horatia
Notes:
1. Queen Adelaide (1830-1837).
2. William I (1772-1843), King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg (1815-1840).
3. George Chapple Norton and Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton (1808-1877), poet, novelist; For Charles Fox see Doc. No: 02131; Francis Baring, 3rd Baron Ashburton (1800-1868), MP; possibly Sir John Shelley, father of Fanny Lucy Edgcumbe; Mrs Law was probably related to Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough; and Sir Stephen Lushington (1803-1877); the identity of Mr. Lowther is unclear.
4. Probably Cholmeley Edward John Heneage Dering (d. 1848), Chaplain to the Queen.
5. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773-1846), WHFT's mother.
6. Anne Douglas-Hamilton, Lady Belfast.
7. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.
8. Goodbye dear.