Sackville St.
Thursday
My dear Henry,
I have compared the two plants [illegible deletion] you sent me with those of our collection – the Hedysarum obscurum is much finer, though I thought even ours very pretty – but our Erinus alpinus is the best – It was hard that you did not arrive before Mr F. <1> though you set off ¾ of an hour before him! I am very sorry poor Horatia <2> has had the Influenza; but if ever there are colds to be had, she is sure to get one. – I saw Miss Feilding <3> yesterday. [illegible deletion] – She was good enough to admit me, though in the midst of preparations for her departure. – she talked much of you all & spoke with great grief of the flight to Geneva – Laura <4> & I are going to the Exhibition at Somerset House <5> this morning, and perhaps to the Opera in the evening with my Father <6> & another Sister. <7> – We are very happy & comfortable together, & only complain that we have not time for half of the things that we should like to do. I will do as I am bid about L. House <8> tomorrow though I have heard nothing from Lady Ilchester <9> & she promised to send me word when her invitation arrived. – I am thinking Lacock must be charming today, the air is so much warmer again. – I found Mr & Mrs Jay at home yesterday & saw all the Oil paintings. He tried to persuade me that the Western Railway was a bad thing –
Yr affecte
Constance
I guess that the enclosed letter is from Louisa Frampton <10> to Harriot Mundy. <11> – She did not get my information about your absence in time, it appears. – I see the Times <12> says the debate of last night <13>was interesting – are you sorry you were not there?
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre M. P.
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
2. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
3. Matilda Feilding (1775-1849), WHFT's 'aunt' - sister of Charles Feilding, his stepfather.
4. Laura Mundy (1805–1842), WHFT’s sister-in-law.
5. The Royal Academy occupied part of the building.
6. Francis Mundy (1771–1837), politician and father of Constance Talbot.
7. Emily Mundy (1807– 5 November 1839), or, Marian Gilder, née Mundy (1806 – 14 October 1860); m. 6 August 1844 William Troward Gilder (d. 1871), Army Surgeon (ret).
8. Lansdowne House, London: home of the Marquis of Lansdowne, WHFT's uncle and cousins.
9. Juliana Maria Strangways, née Digby (d. 1842).
10. Louisa Charlotte Frampton.
11. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.
12. The Times (London).
13. Possible reference to The Poor Law Amendment of 1834 which standardized the system of poor relief throughout Britain. [See Doc. No: 02810].