Hanford <1>
Octr 27th
Dear Mr Talbot,
Contrary to our expectations Harriet <2> does not spend the winter with us – she has settled to go to the I. of Wight about the beginning of December – If therefore it should suit you to receive us towards the middle of that month shall we say Monday the 12th to stay till the following Saturday? we shall be very happy to pay you our long talked of visit. Harriet is much obliged to yourself & Lady Elizabeth <3> for your kindness in extending your invitation to her altho she is prevented from availing herself of it – I little thought when I was pitying Harriot Mundy <4> for being present at the breaking of windows at Markeaton, <5> that I should so soon be a fellow sufferer – Grace <6> & I happened to be at Ld Digbys <7> when the mob attacked his House & broke a great many of his windows – We were playing a pool of commerce when we heard their shouts coming nearer & nearer & in a moment an attack made upon the windows in every direction, & upon the great door, which we every moment expected would have given way – fortunately it did not, & they went away after breaking most of the windows within their reach, to attack other houses in Sherborn [sic] to which they did still more damage than to Ld Digby’s.<8> We had some little indication of what was preparing by being pelted with mud as we were driving away from a shop in Sherborne that morng, because we were in Ld Digby’s carriage, but this did not alarm us – & the attack of the mob took us all quite by surprise – Sir William & Ly Chatterton & Mrs Lascelles Iremonger <9> were the only people besides ourselves staying with Ld Digby – Mr Seymer <10> was at the Sessions but he joined us there when they were over, & staid on for a day or two for the chance of being useful as a Magistrate – This severe contest has done much mischief in this County & has occasioned a great deal of irritation & ill will –
We all unite in kind regards – believe me truly Yours
Ht Ker Seymer
H. F. Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Dorset.
2. Harriet-Marcia Duffward, née Ker Seymer (d. 1864), daughter of Harriet Ker Seymer.
3. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
4. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.
5. Markeaton Hall, Derbyshire, NW of Derby: home of the Mundy family. There was rioting in many parts of the country following the House of Lords’ rejection of the second reform bill.
6. Grace Emma Ker Seymer, daughter of Harriet Ker Seymer.
7. Related to Theresa Anna Maria Digby, née Fox Strangways (1814–1874), WHFT’s cousin.
8. Text torn away under seal.
9. Sir William Abraham Chatterton, of Castle Mahon, County Cork, his wife Henrietta Georgiana Marcia Lascelles Chatterton (1806–1876); probably Mrs Harriett Lascelles Iremonger, mother of Lady Chatterton.
10. Her husband, Henry Ker Seymer (1782-1834), JP, MP & Sheriff of Dorset.