Moreton <1>
Saturday Novr 1st
My dr Henry
Lily <2> writes me word that you are at Brighton, & I beg you will no longer waste your sweetness in such a distant spot, but make haste here as fast as Mails will bring you – I have sent you at least a dozen pressing messages in every one of your Mothers letters, which seemed to be flying over the Country – some to Dieppe, some to Paris &c – but I hope you got them – I expect your Mother & Sisters <3> Thursday, Lily insists that they shd not put it off another hour, hour [sic] repeated ever since I was so absurdly generous as to let them go to Melbury <4> after I once had them safely housed here – Henry <5> goes to town next the week after next to keep his term & will be absent here a week & is engaged to pay a visit in Cotehele <6> on the 23d so thus if they do not come here they will see nothing of him – I hope Kit <7> will come while they are here – as he is at Melbury & is to come here as soon as he can. – You so often have cheated us of a visit, that I shall be be chagrin <8> if you cheat us now & as your Mother wrote to tell me where to write to you, I suppose she will not grudge you to us. – We dine at ½ past 6 & hope you will be here Wednesday or Thursday at latest, if I hear nothing. –
Ht Frampton
This letter is I think rather fierce considering you have not refused to come this time, but old grudges will be revived & I fear I can never get you when I want you – & this is always & it is a proof of my love & affection
1 Nov [illegible]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
Post Office
Brighton
Notes:
1. Moreton, Dorset: home of the Frampton family.
2. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
3. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister, and Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
4. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.
5. Henry Frampton (1804-1879).
6. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
7. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
8. Sad.