London
Friday June 21st
My dear Henry
I was so glad you had a fine day yesterday, & here is another beautiful one for your passage. I am in hopes the fine weather has set in again for some time. We went again to the Bazaar<1> yesterday it was not crowded at all, & I was persuaded into buying several useless things at a great price to oblige my friends. Some of them looked very pretty behind their counters, especially Lady Chesterfield, Mrs Anson Ly Ashley, Ly Sarah Ingestrie & Lady Howe.<2> In the evg we went to an exquisite party at Lady de Grey’s<3> which you would found [sic] very dull – Papa<4> had a long letter from Caroline<5> giving a charming account of Bimbo,<6> who actually lifted the leg of a heavy chair off the floor! Lord V.<7> takes the waters every morning at 7 o’clock. They think of going to Varese<8> in August. Pray let us know where to direct to you – Give my love to Constance<9> – I am very curious to know her first impressions on landing. Addio caro fratello<10>
your affte
Horatia
Think & tell us how long you stay at Paris that we may know if it is worth while to write again there – give my love to Amandier<11>
W. Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
Notes:
1. The Fancy Fair and Bazaar was a four day affair for the benefit of the Society of Friends of Foreigners in Distress. It was held in the Hanover Square Rooms in London and was opened by the Queen.
2. Anne Elizabeth Forester, Lady Chesterfield (1803–1885). Emily Caroline Catherine Francis Ashley-Cooper, née Cowper, Lady Ashley (d. 1872); misspelling of Sarah Elizabeth Chetwynd-Talbot, née Beresford, Lady Ingestre (1807–1884) wife of Henry John Chetwynd Talbot, 18th Earl Shrewsbury; Lady Howe, wife of Lord Howe, Tory statesman [see Doc. No: 02242].
3. Mary Elizabeth née Ponsonby, Lady Grey (1776–1861).
4. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
5. Lady Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding (1808-1881); WHFT's half-sister; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1840–1854 & 1863–1865.
6. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
7. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
8. In September 1833 they would stay at the Albergo della Stella in Varese. In 1823, Lady Elisabeth and Charles Feilding enjoyed a three month stay at the Villa Serbelloni where they were joined by WHFT. The Villa Serbelloni is in Varese, in Lombardy, Italy, north of Milan and near Lake Como, and is known today as Palazzo Estense. Built as a baroque palace by Francesco III d’Este, Duke of Modena and Governor of the Duchy of Milan (1698-1780), it went by descent from his third wife by morganatic marriage, Renata Teresa d’Harrach, Princess Melzi, to Rosina Zinzendorf, Countess Serbelloni. The Countess allowed wealthy paying guests to stay there. Although this was their only stay in the Villa, the house remained strong in their family memory. WHFT showed it to his new wife in October 1833, just as he was conceiving of the idea of photography and his sister Horatia made a point of visiting it in 1847.
9. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
10. Goodbye dear brother.
11. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].