Tuesday Oct 1st
My dear Henry
I want to know if there is any chance of your being able to recover a lost letter? It contained a Sovereign which Bennett <1> wished to send to her Sister <2> in London & which you kindly enclosed for her to Mr Strangways <3> on the 17th of September: at least I am almost certain that was the date. I dare say you recollect the circumstance, particularly as you wrote the direction yourself on Bennetts letter. I am told that some enquiries have already been made by Nicole, <4> but without success; perhaps he may not have taken the liberty of naming it to you; and that is the reason of my writing; because I think you might be able to discover whether or not Mr Strangways ever forwarded it –
[illegible deletion] Pray let us hear of your well:being, if you have a few moments to spare – I fancy you quite uncomfortable, at the mercy of a strange housemaid! –
called yesterday & invited us all to dine & sleep at Compton on Monday. Lady Elisabeth <5> & Horatia <6> have accepted, but I mean to be excused – I was extremely glad to see her & to hear something of poor Mrs Webber, who remains at present at her own home in Hamps. with her Sister Mrs Ward. – The Chicks <7> are quite well, with the exception of Matilda being a little fractious (as the Nurses say) which may be owing to her teeth.
What lovely weather we have now dearest Henry! I hope it is favorable to your pursuits whatever they may be –
Your affte
Constance
Notes:
1. Nurse and governes.
2. Mrs Shields.
3. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.
4. Nicolaas Henneman (1813–1898), Dutch, active in England; WHFT’s valet, then assistant; photographer.
5. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
6. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
7. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter, Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter and Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.