London
27th Novr 1838.
My Dear Constance
The Christening <1> is to be Thursday at six o’clock, after which there is to be a grand dinner – Ld Mt Edgcumbe <2> is to be present – and Ld Lansdowne, Ld Ilchester <3>, Starndale John, the Clergyman &c. Horatia <4> is expected this evening – I had an excessively cold journey yesterday; the outside passengers were so frozen that they could not eat their dinner at Newbury. It will take me some days to get warm again. We drove to the Station at Maidenhead 20 minutes before 7; so that we had time to warm ourselves at a good Stove in a very comfortable Waiting Room, some minutes before the train started. We started punctually at 7 and had a most prosperous journey. The Engine, encouraged perhaps by the frost & moonlight, put forth all its energies & in ¾ of an hour we rolled into the Station at Paddington. The last 19 miles from Slough to London we performed in 33 minutes; the motion was very smooth & without jerks & the journey met with universal approbation from the passengers –
This weather will put an end to my intention of planting. You had better tell John Humphreys <5> not to attempt it –
Your affte
Henry
Notes:
1. Of Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew
2. Lord Mount Edgcumbe, 2nd Earl (1764–1839).
3. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle; Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).
4. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
5. Misspelling of John Humphries, gardener at Lacock Abbey in the early 1840’s.