Sunday June 14.
My dear Henry
Had you asked Nicole <1> he would have told you in a moment that my Sisters <2>direction was 37 Queen Anne Street. – you mistook the first figure, which is what I find the easiest, because it is the same as the first figure in 31. Sackville St. <3> I could not answer you quicker – on account of its being black Saturday – when your letter reached me – Now therefore I have that to thank you for, & 2 others. – You found your privilege of the Entrée very useful yesterday at the Hort. Gardens; otherwise from your account of the crowd, you would scarcely have seen anything. – I think I never was more shocked or surprised than I was on Friday morning when the large letters on the first page of the globe <4> met my eyes, announcing the attempt to assassinate the Queen & Prince Albert <5>– But what does the Globe mean by asserting so positively that the assassin is unconnected with any party! – For to me it seems the only rational solution since the man himself is not insane. – As your time is so nearly drawn to a close why should you spend any more of your precious moments in searching for my Sisters? – I had written to tell them that they had better settle my debt with Nicole, as you were so uncertain – and I will now write to tell them of your intended visit & ineffective search for their house. – so that they will be equally sensible of your kindness. –
Mlle Amélina <6> has written to say she will come to us on the 25th her original time. – Her scruples seem to have been removed by my last letter. –
Chicks <7>are all well –
Your affte
Constance
Notes:
1. Nicolaas Henneman (1813–1898), Dutch, active in England; WHFT’s valet, then assistant; photographer.
2. 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.
3. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
4. The Globe (London).
5. There were eight attempts on the life of Queen Victoria (1819–1901). This first attempt was by Edward Oxford in the early evening of 10 June 1840 shortly after the Queen and Prince Albert (1819–1861) left Buckingham Palace in their open carriage to visit the Queen’s mother, the Duchess of Kent, at her house in Belgrave Square. The perpetrator was only 18 years old, the son of a jeweller. At his trial in July, he was found to be insane; he was therefore spared execution and committed to a lunatic asylum.
6. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
7. Ela Theresa Talbot (25 Apr 1835 - 25 Apr 1893), WHFT's 1st daughter; Rosamond Constance Talbot (16 Mar 1837 - 7 May 1906), 'Rose'; 'Monie'; artist & WHFT's 2nd daughter; died & buried at San Remo, Italy, with a memorial at Lacock; Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, née Talbot (25 Feb 1839-1927), 'Tilly', WHFT's 3rd daughter; m. John Henry Gilchrist-Clark 16 Jun 1859.