TALBOT950

Penrice ¹
Jan^y 2^d

My dear Henry

You well deserve a full account of the wedding ² for the charming letters you have written – I can’t tell you how glad we were to see your handwriting again – it was a feast to our eyes & I doubt not had any of them been sore would have cured them immediately as the old saying is – They were married on the 14^th for it was put off a few days because Jane was so poorly – the weather was as bad as possible – a torrent of rain so that we were wet in only getting through the churchyard notwithstanding carpets & umbrellas there were a great number of people come to see but they were very quiet for we had sent to beg there might be no firing as the custom is – there were present my uncle Charles ³ who performed the ceremony – Aunt Strangways Sir John & Lady Nicholl – M^r Lemon & Aunt Charlotte & little Charles – Sir CC Mama ⁴ & all of us – & Maryanne Shakespear, ⁵ she has been staying some time with us & desired me to remember her kindly to you Kit ⁶ gave Jane away. – Jane went away about two o’clock & got to Margam ⁷ that day & the next they went to Wenvoe, a very nice house near Cardiff – there they stayed a fortnight & now are with us here again – in a few days we are to go to Merthyrmawr ⁸ (Sir John Nicholl’s) & about the beginning of February we are to go to Bath for Mama for she has been frequently poorly again of late, & we hope it will do her the same good as before – when we leave home, Jane & M^r Nicholl are to pay visits in Dorsetshire & then they talk of going abroad for a short time, they are to live in London. – It was a sad parting as you may suppose – but it is a loss that will be more felt afterwards than at first – we have all grown up so much together that the hole in our comfort will be many years filling up – & even then – but there is no end to complainings if once I begin Mary ⁹ & Mama must I know feel her loss so much more yet how well they bear it – we could not have parted with her to a person we liked better – I believe you know him – and all his family are such good people as well as pleasant that I can’t help feeling rather obliged to Jane for making them our relations –

Your description of Nice made Kit lo[ng to]¹⁰ be there but Mama does not admire the olive trees or Bamboos nor does she approve of your filling the snug corner with so ugly a thing as the prickly pear – we will take great care of any seeds you will send us – your hyacinths blew when alas we were not here to see them

I am just beginning to learn German of a Governess we have for Bella & Emma ¹¹ & am very glad to hear your favorable report of it. Pray tell me what books you recommend & what you have read & mind I have a long list for perhaps some of them may be not to be had in England –

Pray tell me how you all do when you write & give my love to all – we are all pretty well & Jane a great deal better – Aunt C &c. stayed with us about two months this last autumn & about two months more in lodgings at Swansea, to coming continually to see us & we going as often to see them – it was very pleasant – they are now at Bowood ¹² – the Framptons ¹³ have all had the measles & are nearly well again

Your affectionate Cousin
Charlotte Talbot

W. H. F. Talbot Esq^r
at Cap^t Feildings