Saturday September 26. –
My dear Henry
You will be glad to hear that Ela <1> is quite herself again in spirits & only a very little paler in looks than usual – indeed her indisposition was scarcely worth mentioning at all & I hope therefore it did not make you uneasy. – I can fancy that you must want to see her again uncommonly; & perhaps too sometimes you may wish for her Mamma – but the latter personage is not quite such a rarity & would most heartily forgive you even if she knew that you thought more of her child than of herself. – But why should I imagine such a thing! – you will scold me for talking nonsense – My Sisters <2> were pleased at your thinking of inviting them again to Lacock so soon, but just now is not quite a favorable moment for either of them paying us a visit. – They say that they think moreover we must want to be alone together for a short time before Lady Elisabeth <3> arrives, as we have been so long disunited – perhaps there is some truth in this idea – what think you? – As we could have not have a place to spare in our carriage it would be as easy at any future time as now for one of them to come. They would ere long be [illegible deletion] changing their quarters for the Winter, & where they will go I cannot think – they are at present in a state of hopeless uncertainty. – This return of rain is very unpleasant & after the beauty of yesterday rather astonishing – I hope you returned to Lacock yesterday evening as you expected whilst it remained fine. perhaps [sic] you did so & perhaps you were tempted by the clearness of the night to look out for the comet. – We took advantage of yesterday for sailing to the Needles <4> & had a charming view of them & of Alum Bay – the bright colours of the sand shone forth most brilliantly in the rays of the sun, & the adjacent chalk quite put out our eyes by its dazzling whiteness. The day before we accomplished our visit to Chilworth with only one shower – What a lovely place it is! & how beautiful is the whole of the drive there from Southampton! quite worth going to see. – Mr Quin <5> was gone out driving with Miss Talbot, <6> but we found the rest of the party at home & were well received by them – Mrs Quin was particularly affectionate – I could fancy her grown several years older since we saw her last at Calais. – Did you get my last letter <7> written on Thursday in which I proposed to you that my visit here should end on Monday week the 5th? My Mother <8> has just suggested to me that it may not have reached you as you have been travelling from place to place. – In it I [illegible] too that Ela had not been quite well, which was my reason for mentioning her improved health in the first instance. All here are most anxious that you should spend a day or two with them before you carry me off – indeed [it] would please them very much if you would do so without displeasing yourself. – When you next write you will perhaps tell me what I am to expect; & whether if you do not come till Monday morning you would think of sleeping at Southampton the same night. – You will please to recollect that now the evenings are grown cold Ela must not travel late & I think we should make our arrangements much more comfortably were you to come a day or two sooner & stay. – If it is not convenient for you to fetch me at the time I name I can of course remain here any number of days beyond the 5th but I shall be quite ready & willing to depart then. – I am charmed to hear that you have met with some pretty Autumnal flowers – they are always so valuable – I am quite sorry I have not been able to visit Mr Page’s garden yet, but<9> whenever we do go over to Southampton there is so mu[ch] to be done & so little time to do it in. – Fitzsimmons <10> has sent me the last supply of peaches from Lacock & enquired whether he should send grapes. – but as I shall be home so soon I do not wish for any to be sent. –
Adieu dear Henry – Your dearly affectionate
Constance. –
We have been reading aloud the lives of the Scottish Worthies <11> & like them much –
Best love from all –
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
2. Laura Mundy (1805– 1 September 1842); Emily Mundy (1807– 5 November 1839); 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. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
4. A series of chalk stacks protruding into the sea at the most westerly point of the Isle of Wight.
5. Windham Henry Wyndham-Quin, 2nd Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl (1782-1850); and his wife, Caroline, née Wyndham (d. 1870).
6. Mary Thereza Talbot (1795–1861), WHFT’s cousin.
7. Not located.
8. Sarah Leaper Mundy, née Newton (d. 1836), WHFT’s mother in law.
9. Text torn away under seal.
10. Cornelius Fitzsimmons, Scottish gardener at Lacock Abbey.
11. Patrick Fraser Tytler, Lives of Scottish Worthies (London: J. Murray, 1831–1833).