Dearest Henry,
I sent these few lines to meet you – because I know you will be glad to hear that Lord Shelbourne <1> is going on well after his wound – Lady Louisa <2> most affectionately rode over this morning to tell me all about it – It was no accident – but a Shameful premeditated attack – The blow was given by a bludgeon just over the eye – fortunately the eye itself escaped injury – Of course he is now in bed & kept as quiet as possible – He has very little fever, sleeps tolerably, & does not mind noises – He has but little head-ache – and yesterday he requested his Sister to give him some Music, which is considered to be a very favourable symptom. She has promised to let me hear again tomorrow – Dearest Henry I am more thankful than I can express that you were not there! For you might have met with a similar or even a much worse misfortune. It was truly melancholy for Lady Lansdowne <3> to arrive almost at the same instant that her son was brought home in that state! But how fortunate for Lady Louisa that she did arrive just in time to nurse him–
Cooper <4> can tell you the whole history of the riot, if you like to interrogate him, for he went to Devizes <5> with my permission on the day of Nomination
I am afraid I shall not be up & dressed quite by the time you arrive – but I shall try to be a little earlier than usual –
Yr affte
Constance
Saturday evening
H.F. Talbot Esqre
Notes:
1. Henry Fitzmaurice, Lord Shelburne, 4th Marquess of Lansdowne (1816–1866), MP.
2. Louisa Howard, née Fitzmaurice (d. 1906), daughter of Lady Louisa Emma Fitzmaurice.
3. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), wife of Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838; WHFT's aunt.
4. Thomas Cooper, butler. [See Doc. No: 03258].
5. Devizes in Wiltshire was at the centre of numerous riots during the 1830s in relation to social and political reforms. The first of these, in November 1830, had been by agricultural workers who attributed their poverty to the introduction of agricultural machinery.