Lacock Abbey
March 6th
My dear Henry
Here is a whole heap of letters arrived for you today. – Did you, or did you not ever receive the Literary Gazette <1> from Sloperton? <2> – Mr Moore <3> writes word to Lady Elisabeth <4> that he sent it off per post the very day after my your message was received at Sloperton. –
I can give a good account of Baby <5> & of his Nurse– Mrs Havergal <6> too has been quite happy the last day or two about her little boy. <7> – I had a nice walk yesterday among the Crocusses in various parts of the garden & found the weather so fine & mild, that I regretted not having gone out earlier – especially as a walk would have done Baby a great deal of good, had I discovered in time that the day would suit him. –
Mr Kenrick <8> reports that today is finer still, but to me it feels cold – so I am going out first myself to judge, before Baby puts on his things. Ela <9> has a bilious attack which Mr Kenrick succeeded in checking at the beginning; as he happened to call early yesterday morning & prescribed for her immediately. – She had a good deal of fever with it, but that is quite subdued – & Mr Kenrick s thinks her going on as well as possible today. – She has just had some chicken broth for her dinner & liked it very much. – He will see her again tomorrow – which is right, because children require so much watching. – You don’t know perhaps that Horatia <10> was heard from 2 days ago – Her letter gave a better account of Ld Mt Edgcumbe <11>– though he is far from recovered. – Rome is given up & their thoughts are turning upon a Villa in the environs of Florence. – All the rest of their party were well & herself particularly so –
Your affte
Constance. –
Notes:
1. The Literary Gazette and Journal of belles lettres, science and art.
2. Sloperton Cottage, Wiltshire, 1 mi E of Lacock: home of Thomas Moore, the Irish poet.
3. Thomas Moore (1780–1852), Irish poet.
4. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
5. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son, who was born on 2nd February.
6. Midwife and nurse.
7. See Doc. No: 04445.
8. Dr George Cranmer Kenrick, surgeon living at The Grove, Melksham.
9. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
10. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
11. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.