Lacock Abbey
Wed July 6 –

My dear, very dear Henry

Here is the bulky packet which I promised you – please to give the note to Caroline ^<1> when you see her or hear of any message being sent to her – The letters for Emily ^<2> & for Aunt Newton ^<3> to be franked if you please – not sent without – they can wait a day or so without inconvenience – I have put the directions on the back of each – I hope you received a letter ^<4> from me yesterday enclosed to M^r Strangways ^<5> – it contained an order for a bonnet for Ela ^<6> – You may pay for it, if requested, because I can depend upon the correctness of M^rs Andrews’s ^<7> charges – I have thought of one other commission which I believe will be the last – it consists of a piece of Gamboge for flower painting – you will find it inexpensive – I am doubtful whether we sent the right flower yesterday for the Ornithoga[lum]^<8> It was almost the only thing in bloom in the spot that you mentioned, but it looked most particularly like an Allium – Fitzsimmons ^<9> was determined to send you a specimen of the Phalangium also, in case you should mean that! at the same time he was much afraid that you would laugh at our ignorance – I recollect perfectly some Stars of Bethlehem which flowered early in your Botanic garden – I am afraid that the wind yesterday must have been too high for Marian’s ^<10> project of sailing. – The Thunder w^h I mentioned, lasted till about eleven & for about 2 hours seemed very near – but we had no rain of any consequence. Ela continues to talk about you, though perhaps not quite so much as at first –

from dear Henry’s affectionate
Constance. –

Did you intend that the Globe ^<11> should continue to come here as usual? – I fear there must be some mistake. – I will preserve them for you carefully – apart from the old ones –

Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
31. Sackville Street

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Notes:

1. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.

2. Emily Mundy (1807– 5 November 1839), WHFT’s sister-in-law.

3. Her aunt, Eleanor Newton, née Stephenson (1788-1880), wife of Sarah Leaper Newton's brother, Robert Newton Leaper-Newton (1775-1846); she continued to live at Marle-Hill House, Cheltenham.

4. See Doc. No: 03321.

5. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4^th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.

6. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1^st daughter.

7. See Doc. No: 03321.

8. Text torn away under seal.

9. Cornelius Fitzsimmons, Scottish gardener at Lacock Abbey.

10. Her sister, Marian Gilder, née Mundy (1806 – 14 October 1860); m. 6 August 1844 William Troward Gilder (d. 1871), Army Surgeon (ret).

11. The Globe (London).