Lacock Abbey
June 3d
My dear Henry
I do not think your description of the Nurse <1> recommended by Lady George Murray <2> is quite all that I could wish because a want of cheerfulness, if it really exists is a great objection. – Perhaps in this instance the sadness might be produced or at least encreased by the awfulness of the interview with you & Lady Elisabeth <3> – Could you find out whether Mrs Storey’s children were happy under her care? – She should think however that had it been otherwise no Mother would have kept her in her family 16 years – This length of service is alone a strong recommendation unless Mrs Storey is a lady who does not care who she has about her. – (which I grant is an improbable supposition.) – Harriot <4> says she would take depend on Lady G. Murray’s judgement of a Nurse as soon as upon any of her friends’. – Certainly if she deserved to hold the situation of Nurse & to possess her Mistress’s confidence as long as 16 years, she must possess some very admirable qualities & ought not hastily to be rejected. – I suppose that you saw nothing of promise in the course of yesterday, as the post brought me no letter from you this morning. – Pray don’t forget to make minute enquiries about temper when you are asking for a character. – Harriot has been very kind in her offers of assistance; – so if you should chance to wish for another opinion upon any one that you like or feel undecided upon, pray avail yourself of hers –
Yesterday I received an unexpected party of visitors, who came, not to see me, but the Abbey, – though on finding that I was at home the could not avoid asking for me. – They were 4 in number Lady Hunloke & her daughter, <5> Lady Julia (Howard I understood) & another young lady who was nameless, & almost speechless – silent I mean – They were on their way to Bath, but I know not from whence they came – Lady Hunloke said she had lately been in Derbyshire & was soon returning to Richmond, where it appears that she resides at present with some relations. – She said she hoped she should see Lady Elisabeth in London. – Lady Julia claimed a kind of acquaintance with me, in as much as she said Harriot had once introduced her to me. – Who is she? – & where have I seen Her? – I apologized for myself on the plea of having been so little in Society; – & I am certain I shall not forget her again, for I was exceedingly charmed with her. – Miss Hu[nloke]<6> asked to see the children & all the Ladies took a great deal of notice of them. –
And now I must say adieu because it is dinner time. – We find four o’clock an excellent hour & we go out afterwards – & the weather has generally been very fine in the evenings, even after much rain in the mornings. – Marian <7> & Emily <8> have taken drives in the poney carriage & seem to approve it & Marian finds it easy. – Altogether I really believe my Sisters are very comfortable. – it was a pity I had not the benefit of their assistance yesterday when my visitors came, but they were just gone out walking. – Tomorrow we expect Uncle & Aunt Newton <9> to dine & sleep; & we are hoping for fine weather – They are evidently much pleased to come.
Your affte
Constance
H. F. Talbot Esqre
31 Sackville Street
London
Notes:
1. Mrs Groves . [See Doc. No: 03686].
2. Lady Anne Charlotte Murray, née Grant (d. 1844).
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. Lady Anne Hunloke, née Eccleston (1788–1872); after 1860, known as Lady Anne Scarisbrick, and her daughter Charlotte Mary Hunloke (1808–1857); Lady Elizabeth Howard (d. 1845), daughter of Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk (1776–1851), MP.
6. Text torn away under seal.
7. Her sister, Marian Gilder, née Mundy (1806 – 14 October 1860); m. 6 August 1844 William Troward Gilder (d. 1871), Army Surgeon (ret).
8. Emily Mundy (1807– 5 November 1839), WHFT’s sister-in-law.
9. Eleanor Newton, née Stephenson (1788-1880), wife of Sarah Leaper Newton's brother, Robert Newton Leaper-Newton (1775-1846).