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Result number 69 of 971:   < Back     Back to results list   Next >  

Document number: 3230
Date: Wed 23 Mar 1836
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: TALBOT Constance, née Mundy
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA36-18
Last updated: 16th November 2016

Wednesday March 23rd

My dear Henry

I am rather disappointed at having no letter from you today – Though I believe I did not ask you to write immediately I had hoped you would do so – for of course I am very anxious to know that you crossed Salisbury downs in safety. – I want extremely to know also whether you find things tolerably comfortable at Lacock – & especially how the housemaid manages to cook your dinner.–

I cannot tell you what a delight our darling child <1> is to me. She is so infinitely more sensible & engaging than when we left her here only five weeks ago – & with me she is quite as affectionate as she ever used to be. – Before the end of the first day she began crying after me & would sit contentedly on no one’s knee but mine – I believe at first she was afraid that I should go away again for now she begins to divide her attention more equally among her Mamma & her Aunts. <2>– I wish you could have had better weather than this is for your sojourn at Lacock – the garden will not look nice I fear without a little sunshine. – My Sisters seem at to approve of any proposal about the Sea kale & Rhubarb –, only they are very much afraid that by having some sent here, there may not be enough left for your own use but I have explained to them that you are not wont to conserve much of those articles – It does not occur to me that there is anything else worth sending unless by way of filling up the basket, such as spinach which I think my Father <3> likes – or of course Fitzimmons <4> might fill up with any kind of thing that is usually required in the kitchen. – Some flowers we should like very much. – I hope Fitzimmons will select the smallest baskets that he has got, & send them regularly once a week till I write to stop them. – & I conclude he can make an amusement about our returning the empty baskets without charge for carriage. – I opened Lady Lansdowne’s <5> letter as you desired. – it was to you, & therefore required no reply – but I was touched by the affectionate manner in which she made her enquiries. – Another letter is come for you today which of course I forward to Lacock not knowing what it is – And now I must tell you that Ela is much pleased with the little rabbit which I brought for her & particularly delighted with the bounding ball presented by her dear Papa.– The latter is at present an unceasing source of delight to her – Certainly a child’s joy does not readily communicate itself to others & we all laughed with her yesterday when she was playing with this same ball – My Brother <6> leaves us tomorrow which I am sorry for, though perhaps my he can be better spared whilst I am here, than when my Father & Sisters are quite alone. – He has fixed to return here with Harriet <7> before they leave this place, which they are thinking of doing about the middle of May. The term of their house will be finished on the 1st of May & they are doubtful whether the owner will allow them to remain from week to week afterwards for any time that may suit them. – If they can arrange it, they would like to be guided in the length of their stay here by the advance of Spring. – for they would not wish to move till the weather becomes settled, though when the hot weather once sets in they say that Southampton air becomes unhealthy.– Poor Marian! she seems to have a dread of going to Markeaton <8> where she suffered so much before & in her present state, there is much to be feared for her from the length of the journey. – If they do return there, which seems to be pretty nearly fixed, I hope we may be able to pay them a visit in the course of the Summer – for I much wish to do whatever we can to lighten the weight of painful feelings which must of course oppress their hearts during the first year of their residence at Markeaton. – The sad chasm must be long & deeply felt. – Oh how often do I fruitlessly wish that my Sisters had homes like mine with such a husband full of tenderness & affection! – But blessings like these are not of our own device – they are given us from Above – & where they are withheld it must be for some good & wise purpose – Yet I cannot help saying to myself, What have I done to merit them more than my sweet Sisters! – Nothing, absolutely nothing!

We talk a great deal about our dear Mother <9> – it is a melancholy satisfaction to me to hear all the particulars of her short illness, & it seems a relief to my Sisters to dwell upon it –

My evening walks have been fine hitherto. – but Mrs Miller has general orders to send one a fly <10> whenever it is wet – This evening I shall certainly expect one.–

Pray my dearest do let me hear from you soon –

Your affectionate
Constance

Henry Fox Talbot Esqr –
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, nιe Mundy (1806 – 14 October 1860); m. 6 August 1844 William Troward Gilder (d. 1871), Army Surgeon (ret).; WHFT’s sisters-in-law.

3. Francis Mundy (1771–1837), politician and father of Constance Talbot.

4. Cornelius Fitzsimmons, Scottish gardener at Lacock Abbey.

5. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, nιe 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.

6. William Mundy (1801-1877), politician, WHFT’s brother-in-law.

7. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, nιe Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.

8. Markeaton Hall, Derbyshire, NW of Derby: home of the Mundy family.

9. Sarah Leaper Mundy, nιe Newton (d. 10 March 1836), WHFT's mother in law.

10. A light vehicle on hire.

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