Sunday Decr 12th
My dear Henry
I should think Brighton would suit you much better than Weymouth, since you wish to be within reach of London. – It is a little unlucky for one thing that we are not decided – because Miss James’s house in Glocester Row, which would have suited us well, is likely to be taken – There is a family in treaty for it, but she would willingly give us the preferance if we wished to take it. – She would even keep them in suspense a day or two to oblige us – & I think of asking her to wait till Tuesday morning before she accepts them as tenants, that I may have time to hear once more from you – There is another large & very nice house which I saw yesterday next door to the Hotel. – Its chief fault is being a little too large for our numbers – They ask 3½ guineas for Miss James’s – I had a note from Lady Elisabeth <1>last night – she said that she did not now intend to come over to Weymouth because Lord Ilchester <2> assured her that we were coming to Melbury <3> certainly & very soon. – I have written to her by this post to lament that I shall be deprived of a comfortable talk with her, & to say how uncertain our plans are become.
Perhaps this note of mine may bring about another change as she is never averse to altering her mind – My Sisters <4>mention with pleasure a visit which they had had from you – No recent news I find of little Noel. <5>–
Matilda <6> has an unbecoming bruise on her forehead from a fall yesterday – luckily she escaped with a whole skin, so her beauty is only impaired for the moment. – She is very well – & the others also – Ela <7> has just shaken off her bilious attack which the damp weather occasioned about a week ago – Rosamond <8> was constrained to dance by herself on Friday, but Ela will be quite able to join next time. –
Your affte
Constance
Notes:
1. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
2. Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).
3. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.
4. 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.
5. Francis Noel Mundy (1833–1903), WHFT’s nephew.
6. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
7. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
8. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.