Lacock Abbey
November 30
My dear Henry
Having already sent you two dispatches through Mr Strangways, <1> I think I had best send you this direct, lest I should be thought too troublesome – I believe the weather in London must have been more severe than here judging from the accounts in the newspapers of Confectioners filling their shops with ice – & also from what you yourself said about stopping the planting of your trees. Here the frost ceased almost as soon as it began & we had rain on Tuesday instead; so that Humphries <2> had already planted some of the trees before your letter arrived – Wednesday spoke for itself & was so uncommonly stormy that no out of door’s work could be proceeded with – & yesterday also he did nothing (by my desire) – This morning however was so fine, that he humbly craved permission to continue – & I granted his prayer in consideration of the change which had taken place in the state of the weather since you wrote. I hope I did not do wrong, – He said he did not consider the ground too wet or the wind too high – for I cautioned him on both these points – I assure you it has been very fine & pleasant here today & very sunshiny with only a few storms, but the latter come in suddenly & I fear would be found very disagreeable in London Streets. –
I hope you will be ready to come back on Tuesday with the rest of your party, but for it would be pleasant to be saved one of your numerous coach journeys – but I cannot help fearing that the bad, dark, miserable days you have had since you went up, must have thrown you a little en retard. <3> –
Have you asked Mrs Wilkes <4> the question I proposed, or talked to Ld Valletort <5> about letting his house? – I hope the Christening <6> passed off as well as it did six years ago – for I well remember your telling me then how much the ceremony had interested you. – I cannot discover that we have lost anything by the high wind this time except one old Laburnum tree, that grew near the Catalpas & [illegible] over the ditch Ela & Rosamond <7> are both very well, & extremely happy at getting their walks as usual, after being shut up in the house so many days together. – Adieu dearest Henry, I have been taking advantage of being alone, & have been fatiguing myself as usual with too much occupation – but how can I help it? – The Smoke was to blame one day, for I think I never saw the house in such a state – there was no peace in consequence.
Your affte
Constance
H. F. Talbot Esqre
31. Sackville Street
London
Notes:
1. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.
2. John Humphries, gardener at Lacock Abbey in the early 1840’s.
3. Behind.
4. Nurse.
5. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
6. Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.
7. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter, and Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.
8. Philip Phelps, Surveyor of Taxes & Bailiff, Lacock.
9. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.