Lacock Abbey
May 15
My dear Henry
You are coming back I fear, before you have had enough London air. – I have lost the list of things which I once made for to supply your Photogenic wants.– I can however recollect some desiderata – the foremost of which, good paper & blue glass, I dare say you have already provided.– another Pamphlet-case I think Lady Elisabeth <1> did give you – a set of picture frames for Lacock like your London ones. Some white artificial roses to stick in a cap, & some pieces of white silk or satin.–
The garden looks deliciously refreshed by all this nice rain – it has fallen most seasonally to prevent a scarcity.– The crimson thorns are in great beauty – & the flowering Ash whose untimely destruction last year you so much lamented.– The pink or purple Laburnum is also in full flower & it has the peculiarity this year of bearing one bunch of yellow blossoms among the others. – Horatia’s <2> Ranunculusses are splendid.– but everything looks so nice, it is quite a pleasure to look at them & to observe the daily re-appearance of some fresh old acquaintance. My Sisters <3> set off this morning precisely at nine o’clock. – They have a brighter day than I anticipated. – Chicks <4> are well. –.
Your affte
Constance.
Please to make Nicole <5> bring my parcel of Arrowroot, which Harriet <6> sent to Sackville St. <7>–
Notes:
1. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
2. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
3. Laura Mundy (1805–1842); Marian Gilder, née Mundy (1806 – 14 October 1860); m. 6 August 1844 William Troward Gilder (d. 1871), Army Surgeon (ret).; WHFT’s sisters-in-law.
4. 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.
5. Nicolaas Henneman (1813–1898), Dutch, active in England; WHFT’s valet, then assistant; photographer.
6. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.
7. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.