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Document number: 3599
Date: Tue 03 Oct 1837
Postmark: 4 Oct 1837
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: TALBOT Constance, née Mundy
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA37-51
Last updated: 21st December 2010

Lacock Abbey
Tuesday Oct 3d

My dear Henry

Your short letter <1> of this morning (though so short) was very agreeable because it fixed a positive day for your return – Dearest, it will be a great pleasure to me to have you here again – for, though I cannot exactly say why, this absence has seemed more tedious than any of the former ones – I am very anxious to have you alone for even so short a space before your Mother <2> comes – for a little comforting chat – besides I shall want you to inspire me with courage for that sad first meeting, <3> which I confess I dread. Your letter seems to say that you half wish to have for a confirmation of my last good account of Rose <4> – She is perfectly well now & goes out of doors as usual. & I think no more about her then if nothing at all had been the matter – You will perceive how true this is when I tell you that on Saturday I actually abandoned her for the whole morning & drove over to Bath in the Poney carriage! – Who I think you will consider this rather a wonderful performance – but I wanted extremely to go there about several things, & Cooper <5> assured me it would not hurt the poney – The day was beautiful – & I was really not extremely tired – but somewhat elated at my own prowess – The Poney too was not over-fatigued but carried me beautifully to Sloperton <6> yesterday – having rested only one day – I went there to answer a note which Mrs Moore sent me in the morning – Today Mr & Mrs Moore <7> are going to dine & sleep at Bowood <8> – I saw Lady Lansdowne <9> yesterday – She brought Lady Dacy with her & showed her the Cloisters &c – They condemned much of the Ivy & several of the shrubs –

Lady L. was very affectionate & wished I had sent her word about Rose having the Measles – Had she known however she could not have done her any good – I will not forget to send for you at ¼ past five on Friday morning & am glad you intend to vary your route so far as to come by Chippenham <10> instead of Melksham <11> – You will find some breakfast ready for you – which if you do not eat I shall never again heed your injunctions about not getting up myself to make it for you – This time I will try whether you can keep your promise as well as I can mine

I have heard from Mlle Amélina <12> about their coming on Saturday & that she is coming also, which pleases me much – Pray thank her for her letter & say I will attend to all the wishes expressed in it –

Ever dear Henry yr affate
Constance

H. F. Talbot Esqre
31 Sackville Street
London


Notes:

1. Not located.

2. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.

3. Their first meeting since the death of Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.

4. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.

5. Lady’s maid and nurse.

6. Sloperton Cottage, Wiltshire, 1 mi E of Lacock: home of Thomas Moore, the Irish poet.

7. Thomas Moore (1780–1852), Irish poet, and Elizabeth (Bessie) Moore, née Dyke (1783–1865), wife of the poet Thomas Moore.

8. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.

9. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), wife of Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838; WHFT's aunt.

10. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.

11. Melksham, Wiltshire: market town near Lacock, 2 miles S.

12. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].

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