TALBOT4687

August 2.

My dear Henry

I am in a tremendous state of agitation in consequence of a passage in a letter from M^r Maskelyne ¹ apropos to our great Aunt Lady Harriet Acland! ²– I have been asking him, thorough his wife ³– to verify for me the account of her campaigne as given by General Burgoyne– ⁴ and after nearly two years & repeated reminders he has at length found out that this account or statement was “laid before the House of Commons” by General Burgoyne–.

M^r Maskelyne then proceeds to add as follows–.

“You know, of course, that Lady Harriot herself wrote an account of her Adventures, and after her Husband’s death in a duel, (fought for the honour of American courage!) she married the Rev^nd M^r Brudenell, who aided her in her passage”. ( ! ! ! !)

1^st Where is the account written by our poor aunt? Did you ever hear of it or see it?–

2^nd Col. Acland was not killed in a Duel– He died 1778 but of an illness– I have heard what but now forget. I know there was a Duel with somebody but feel sure it was not fatal– Moreover I have just looked in the Baronetage – which would have named if such had been the case – but it says “died 1778”. ⁵

3^ly Surely our Great Aunt never married again– I must have heard of this – and in the family Pedigree drawn up by my mother no such second marriage is given. I cannot think what authority M^r Maskelyne can have for all these assertions–

Please tell me anything you know or may have heard on the subject– There is nobody else excepting Charlotte Traherne ⁶ who can remember any thing about it– I hope to send the Irises and Clematis lanuginosa “Var” – very soon – Noel & Emily ⁷ return at the end of the week– They were to leave Paris today. Our roses are still very good indeed–

With love to Constance

Y^r Aff^te & perturbed Cousiness
H G Mundy

[envelope, blindtamped on flap "Markeaton Hall,Derby":]
Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts