At sea.
8 Oct.
Dear Talbot.
Having returned by Hamburg, where I was only a few hours, & did not sleep, having gone come aboard the same night, I had time to hunt out at a bookseller’s the books of which you gave me a list, but not to bring them with me, as he had could not get them all in time: they are therefore to come after me; and as I had not by a few marks sufficient money in my purse to pay for them, my luggage having been previously sent aboard before the Gates should close, he promised to remit them to your address to the care of his correspondents Black & Young.–<1> This parcel will contain all that you required except 2, which are coming with a package of books for me from Dresden, & which I will send you from Cambridge. –
Having only a few days before I must be at College, I shall go out at Gravesend (if we arrive in suitable time) to proceed to Dover to spend them with a Sister.<2> This is the reason I send this by 2d Post.–
Ever yrs
T. Thorp
H. Fox Talbot Esqre
Sackville Street
at the Athenæum <3>
12 Waterloo Place
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Black, Young, and Young, Tavistock Place, Covent Garden, London; booksellers specialising in imported German books and publisher of The Foreign Review, and Continental Miscellany.
2. Thorp had two sisters, Maria and Mary-Ann. Their details are at present unknown and it is possible that the sister was simply passing through the port of Dover during travels.
3. Addresses written in various unidentified hands.