My dear Mr Talbot
Your joyful news <1> has indeed surprised us very much & you will believe delights us beyond measure, we all rejoice too at the birth of another little girl & we hope you are equally pleased & satisfied that Ela <2> has a little sister.– How very fortunate that you had just got into your House & that Mrs Wilks <3> was within reach – Give our tenderest & most affectionate love to dear Constance <4> & tell her how happy she has made us by taking us so completely by surprise, & how much we rejoice that she has been spared the tediousness of the last few weeks; you will let us know the first moment that we may be allowed to write to her, & I am sure you will kindly recollect how excessively anxious we shall feel to hear that all goes well, & will let us have a few lines very frequently, especially tomorrow there being no post on Sunday –
Will you read & take charge of a letter to Constance that would reach Sackville St <5> by 2d post yesterday Thursday, –
& Believe me ever Yours affectly
Laura Mundy
Markeaton <6>
Friday March 17.–
We shall be particularly desirous to hear that Constance gets some really good sleep –
H.F. Talbot Esqr
Harley Street
London
Notes:
1. The news of the birth of Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.
2. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
3. Nurse.
4. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
5. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
6. Markeaton Hall, Derbyshire, NW of Derby: home of the Mundy family.