Lacock
Friday April 2
My Dear Charles
Shall I send your letters in a parcel to the Club?
I had a very pleasant visit at Cotehele, <1> but the journey both ways was very cold and the neighbourhood of Taunton on my return was cover'd with snow.
Monie <2> says the weather at Venice is still very bad and travellers arriving from Florence report that it is equally bad there. I have written to Tilly <3> to congratulate her on the success of her friend Major Walker <4> in the election, and the defeat of Sir S. Waterlow <5> the London Alderman. <6> I did not expect it - Elections do no good in a county - Dumfries used to be a very quiet county, now people receive threatening letters.
I stay here perhaps a week longer.
Adieu
Your affte
Father
I hope you got my letter from Cotehele.Notes:
1. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
2. Rosamond Constance 'Monie' Talbot (1837-1906), artist & WHFT's 2nd daughter.
3. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, 'Tilly', née Talbot (1839-1927), WHFT's 3rd daughter.
4. Colonel George Gustavus Walker (1831-1897), Conservative MP; was a Major, Scottish Borderers Militia, and a Magistrtate for the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. Sat as MP for Dumfriesshire, 1865-1869, and from 1869-1874, when he retired.
5. Sir Sydney Hedley Waterlow (1822-1906), Liberal MP; elected an Alderman of London for Langbourn Ward, 1863, Sheriff of London, 1866-1867, Lord Mayor of London, 1872-1873. He represented Dumfriesshire for only a few months in 1869 and later sat for Maidstone, 1874-1880, and Gravesend, 1880-1885.
6. A civic dignitary next in rank to the mayor, elected by fellow councillors, a superior member of an English county council.