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Document number: 03336
Date: 16 Jul 1836
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: BABBAGE Charles
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA36-46
Last updated: 22nd January 2012

My dear Sir,

I shall have much pleasure in accepting Mrs Talbot's <1> and your invitation to Laycock Abbey during part of the week preceeding the meeting of the British Assn <2> - I propose leaving town by some early coach on Tuesday the 16 Aug. which will drop me at Chippenham <3> whence I shall reach you in the evening.

I am My dear Sir Yours faithfully
C Babbage

Dorset St
Manchr Sq <4>
16 July 1836

Fox Talbot Esqre
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham

Notes:

1. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811-1880), WHFT's wife.

2. WHFT invited a number of savants to stay at Lacock Abbey before the 1836 meeting of British Association for the Advancement of Science. In addition to Charles Babbage, Sir David Brewster (1781-1868), Scottish scientist & journalist, Sir Charles Wheatstone (1802-1875), scientist, Dr Peter Mark Roget (1779-1869), scientific writer, Rev William Whewell (1794-1866), Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, Professor and natural philosopher and Sir William Snow Harris (1791-1867), scientist, assembled at Lacock Abbey 16-17 August, leaving at various times for the meeting, which began 22 August.

3. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.

4. Manchester Square,London.