Arundel Street
London,
7 November 1837.
Dear Sir,
I had delayed replying to your favor <1> of the 29th ultimo so long, in the hope that I should by this time have been enabled to state that I was in possession of the translated Extract of the Will of our late respected friend (duly legalised by the chief magistrate of London and the French embassy) to send to Paris for the purpose of obtaining, from M. Valentin [sic], the three last halfyearly Dividends received by him in the French Rentes of which he has the Inscription – which also, I conclude, Lady Elisabeth <2> would desire to place in Messrs Mallett & Cos’ hands. In a few days however I trust these papers will be completed (for business has been almost at a stand in the city) when I think it most adviseable that they should be forwarded to the House of your own Bankers’ correspondents and the whole arrangement confided to their good management and care, because hereafter it will again become necessary to resort to their assistance in carrying out the tenor of the Will with regard to the Principal Sum invested in the late Admiral Feilding’s <3> name in the French 3 pr Cents Rentes. It will be well to avoid unnecessary trouble, expence, and delay, for Lady Elisabeth and yourself to send to me a written order, (to accompany the Extract of the Will,) in favor of the firm of Messrs Malett [sic] & Co, to be by them produced to Mr Valentin to justify his giving up both the Inscription and the arrears of Interest, which he can only do by authority of the executors, and without which authority he would not possess any thing hereafter to shew, upon what ground he parted with the Trust reposed in him by the Admiral.
I do not think I need trouble Lady Elizabeth [sic] by a packet pr the Coach to transmit the two Papers relative to the arrears of Half Pay and Annuity now due from the Estate of the late R Scott Esqre – as I shall certainly meet some friend to give me a frank in a few days, and they are not papers of any material or pressing moment.
With the offer of my respectful Compliments to Lady Elisabeth
I am very truly My dear Sir Your faithful & obedient Servant
Thomas Stilwell
H. F. Talbot Esqre
H. F. Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Not located.
2. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
3. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.