Tuesday January 21st/68
My dear Father,
On arriving here I found a letter from Lady Hylton <1> saying that she was going to leave Merstham on Saturday, and asking me to go there today. This I was not able to do, and so I suppose my visit thither is off for the present. I am therefore uncertain what day I shall leave Town, but I think that if there are any letters now lying at Lacock for me they may be forwarded to this address.
New University Club
1 Saville Row W.
I forgot to give any directions about them before leaving Lacock. I am staying at Cox’s. <2> Yesterday I dined at the Temple but Walton Merewether did not turn up. I suppose he reckoned upon getting up in time by a train leaving Chippenham in the afternoon, which was very doubful [sic]. – Yesterday [illegible deletion] turned out a fairly fine day so that I walked to the Temple. Today is dull and rather rainy. – Do not direct any letters that may arrive after you receive this to be forwarded unless I write again. – Remember that I have to give you nine shillings due from Tilly <3> to my mother, <4> as I am likely to forget it. I see signs of station building going on at a point between Chippenham and Wooton Wotton [sic] Bassett. I suppose that it must be Christian Malford <5> where an extension of the “Midland” is to cross the Grt Western. The number of houses at several points along the line have been increasing rapidly of late years. – Our Clubhouse in St James St is not yet open though it seems to be pretty nearly finished. I think it handsome and perhaps better than I expected. My Harrow friend Clive <6> says thinks it looks too much like a cathedral. (churchy, as the expression is). It certainly is not in character with the Front ensemble of St James’ St but then the character of the St is [new?]. – It is I believe the only Gothic Club house in London. – The new buildings for the National Gallery Royal Academy <7> near Burlington Arcade are getting on. – As the dullness of the weather communicates itself to my ideas I suppose I had better wind up –
Your affect son
Charles. –
[envelope:]
H Fox Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Lady Sophia Penelope Jolliffe, née Sheffield (1822-1882); first m. WTHF Strangways, 21 July 1857; second m. 1st Baron Hylton.
2. Cox’s Hotel, London. [See Doc. No: 07605].
3. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
4. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
5. 4½ miles NE of Chippenham (Bartholemew’s Gazetteer, p. 148)
6. See Doc. No: 07506.
7. Founded in 1768, Burlington House, London.