Cowes – <1>
Friday Septr 18th
My own dear Henry
It seems almost ridiculous to direct to you at Lacock when I know you to be far away; but as I conclude you would not approve of my preserving absolute silence on this account, I must trust that some propitious accident may waft my letter to the unknown regions where you are wandering at the moment. – Your last was most welcome as I was very much rejoiced to hear that you had at last left home. – Think of our having been parted 5 long weeks all but one day! – it already seems to me an age and though I shall be very sorry to leave my Family under the great uncertainty of how & where & when I may meet them all again, I shall look forwards to the end of the month & your arrival with no small degree of pleasure. – Would that I could persuade you when you do come to spend one or two nights at Cowes, – that you might see your dear Aunt Lady Mary <2> who always talks about you – for which alone I should love her, did I not like her for many other reasons – She was very unwell 2 days ago, & seemed still very bad today when she called upon me. – When I remarked upon the imprudence of her taking so long a walk, she answered that she had felt so ill & miserable at home that she thought she would try the experiment of walking. – How it succeeded I have not yet heard – but at any rate now she has the comfort of her daughter to nurse her. – The Nicholls <3> went home the other day & passing through Southampton left Miss Talbot <4> there. The Trahernes <5> are gone – Mrs Traherne was not quite flourishing on her departure but she is apt to be ailing occasionally I believe.
The sailing vessel turned out very well – my Father <6> has had it one week upon trial – & likes it so well that he intends to continue it for 2 more – The weather is grown a little too cold in Laura’s <7> opinion & mine for the true enjoyment of aquatic excursions – but with this one exception they are very pleasant – There cannot be a more idle way of spending one’s time & it is therefore one which I should not like for long; as I am beginning gradually to resume my industrious inclinations & have actually made 2 sketches to my infinite pleasure & satisfaction. – The wish to draw which I never expected to return has seized upon me all at once, & the only difficulty now is to find time & convenient opportunities.
We went to Binsted <8> [sic] the other day; what a charming place it is! I find you are acquainted with the Flemmings & have visited their pretty cottage several times – nevertheless I wished for you there again to enjoy the beauties for of the flower garden with me. – Mrs Flemming said in her affected way that “she had really nothing worth shewing – everything was gone off though the garden had been beautiful” – but her flower borders were quite full of plants – A scarlet Asclepias particularly attracted my admiration & a fine specimen of the Ipomo[illegible] elegans (I think it is) which you had last year at Lacock –
I hope I may contrive to see Mr Nash’s castle, <9> where they say the conservatories & gardens are so beautiful; but now that we have a species of Yacht, our whole time seems to be occupied without any land excursions. – I gave your messages to Lady Mary about Mrs Vickery. <10> She imagines her to be comfortably settled with her sister, as she has not heard any complaints from her; and Lady Mary always expects her to apply to her in any distress. – She sends her money occasionally but does not think that anything further can be done for her. – This Island is recovering its verdure most rapidly in consequence of the late rains & grows prettier every day. – That latter advantage it shows in common with Ela <11> who really is so charming, that there is nothing in the shape of a Baby to be compared to her – You will not know her again I am sure – & how she will look at you & laugh when she sees you. – She is extremely fond of playing with our faces & pulling our hair, – She has a decided taste for flowers & will no doubt become a great botanist when her little ideas are sufficiently developed – and she listens to Music with rapturous delight.
I am grown quite strong now dear Henry, & shall be ready to mount my white poney on my return to Lacock & ride any distance with you – I have sent an especial message to my Brother <12> today to beg he will ride it & get it speedily into good order for me – I hope when we meet again at home you will take up your abode somewhat nearer to me – that [illegible deletion] would it not be a good opportunity for making an alteration? – that is, if you can tear yourself away from the comforts of the confessional – I greatly applaud James’s <13> activity in cleaning the windows; & will try to overlook many of his other imperfections for the sake thereof. – Marian’s <14> health is decidedly improving at this place – but I cannot think when they will take up their quarters for the winter – my Father having a horror of remaining at Cowes or indeed at any place on so small an Island as this is –
Addio, caro sposo – <15> I have been too idle to write to Nice more than once & have not had the grace to answer a letter from Mlle Amélina <16> – how shocking! but I often form good resolutions & abandon them again
Your affecte
Constance
Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Isle of Wight
2. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776–1855), WHFT’s aunt.
3. Dr John Nicholl (1797-1853), MP; and his wife, Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874), WHFT's cousin.
4. Mary Thereza Talbot (1795–1861), WHFT’s cousin.
5. Rev John Montgomerie Traherne (1788-1860), JP, antiquary & author; and his wife, Charlotte Louisa 'Charry' Traherne, née Talbot (1800–1880), WHFT’s cousin.
6. Francis Mundy (1771–1837), politician and father of Constance Talbot.
7. Laura Mundy (1805–1842), WHFT’s sister-in-law.
8. Binstead, coastal village west of Cowes, where there are the ruins of an abbey.
9. East Cowes Castle, Isle of Wight, built by the architect John Nash (1752–1835), as his retirement home from 1831.
10. Elizabeth Vickery ‘Betty’, WHFT’s governess, who would pass away on 25 September 1835. WHFT paid to have a gravestone placed at Cutcombe, Somerset, inscribed: 'Erected to the Memory of Elizbth Vickery his kind & faithful nurse by Henry Fox Talbot of Lacock Abbey in the country of Wilts Esqre'; the stone's inscription is still readable - See Doc. No: 03205.
11. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
12. William Mundy (1801-1877), politician, WHFT’s brother-in-law.
13. Servant.
14. Her sister, Marian Gilder, née Mundy (1806 – 14 October 1860); m. 6 August 1844 William Troward Gilder (d. 1871), Army Surgeon (ret).
15. Good bye dear husband.
16. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].