Lacock
May 20
Dear Mlle Amélina
I return Caroline’s <1> letter which is very amusing – Think of her proposing to go round the world with Cook’s party!
By the way, is Mrs Maxwell likely to visit the Holy Land? She has talked of it so often. ask Monie <2> to write me word, from the Daily Telegraph What was the result of the Dudley election? <3> Whither Mr Sheridan was elected? for the Times after telling us that the elections was peaceful &c. &c. has omitted to inform us of the result. Weather here very bright, but cold at nights, young leaves of walnut, nettle tree &c &c turned black.
A few very pretty flowers in the houses, the Calceolarias particularly good this year – Shall we expect you on Monday next?
Yours ever
H. F. Talbot
Notes:
1. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
2. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.
3. An article entitled ‘Election Intelligence, Dudley’ in The Times (London), 19 May 1874, p. 10, reported the event in the following terms: ‘There is a strong belief in the borough that Mr Hingley, the conservative, has won by a narrow majority over the Liberal H.B. Sheridan…’