Reference2664/3/2B/51
LevelItem
TitleLetters from John Talbot to Henry Davenport.
Description1. 10 Nov 1716 apologising for not writing sooner; thanks him for the loan of a horse to his wife which was used for over 10 miles the day before.
2. Dec 1716 providing details of wine bottled from two hogsheads; asks if Henry wants any.
3. Jan 1717 confirming the wine has been sent. Apologising for not answering letters "for she has scarce been a day without some disorder and yesterday worse than ever…", talking of his wife Mary. Longs for her to be at Isleworth around her friends. Plans to travel there next Monday if she is well enough.
4. 17 Jul 1717 referring to Henry's wife Barbara's "misfortune" and asks if the couple will be visiting, as her accident means she has to visit Bath. Asks Henry to enquire about some chairs he ordered: if they are ready, could he have them sent to him.
5. 17 Aug 1717 with general family news.
6. 4 Jun 1718 referring to an illness of Barbara and hoping that is because she is pregnant; updates that he is always hurrying backwards and forwards to Bath.
7. 6 Jun 1722 with general business news and money transactions. Says that he is putting up his grandfather's monument and an inscription on a piece of marble on the vault, of all the family buried there. Asks to get an extract of all the family born and buried there, particularly details of the children of Sharington Talbot or Mrs Hallifax.
8. 18 Nov 1723 with financial details, including the selling of jewels to pay debt. His wife is in Bath. He has done a lot of work to the garden in recent weeks, including making the river one straight canal with walks on both sides.
9. Undated letter with advice on how to procure some money that he needs; he can't pay him immediately; suggests meeting with his attorney Mr Sadler; reminds him that he holds some leases of John Ivory Talbot's that could be used as a security. Updates on the condition of his wife who is very weak with a fever.
10. Undated letter reminding Henry Davenport that he had offered to lend him some money to purchase tithes. He kept court the day before, and will do it at Charlton the next week.
11. 29 May 1725 updating Henry on the health of his son who is now out of danger; writing from Bath, saying that the place is emptying for the season which is dull as he is likely to be confined for a long time. His wife is improving but is still unable to get out of bed or dress. Mr Whitmore is dead.
12. 5 Jun 1725 updating Henry on the health of his son Thomas who is now well but his wife has had a relapse of her fever. Hopes Henry's building [of Davenport House] is going well; updates him on his building work at Lacock: the new basin in the garden is nearly finished and there is going to be a decoy for breeding wildfowl.
13. 9 Jun 1725 about Barbara Davenport's health and his hopes that her illness is because she is pregnant: offers to be godfather. Pities Henry for his afflictions including Harry's illness and his wife's "misfortune" as well as his own gout. Updates him on his son Thomas who is well; his wife Mary has relapsed and seems worse than ever; she is now delirious. Writes "Her groans would melt the hardest heart and the convulsion motions of her hands and legs frighten the most resolved. The Doctors do not apprehend immediate danger but I am sure dread the worst event".
Date1716-1725
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