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Document number: 04015
Date: 02 Feb 1840
Recipient: TALBOT Constance, née Mundy
Author: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA(H)40-1
Last updated: 23rd December 2010

London
2d Febry 1840

Dear Constance

As Wright <1> is coming Monday and my mother <2> on Tuesday, I shall send down Nicole <3> on Tuesday to take care of you all. Pray send Pullen <4> with the cart to meet him at Melksham <5> (Kings Arms) I suppose he will arrive there about ½ past four.

My pictures had great success at Mr Babbage’s <6> last night, Sir David Wilkie <7> and Sir Francis Chantrey <8> happened to be there & admired them. Mr Wheatstone is going to exhibit them at the next meeting of the Graphic Society <9> – I dined with Mrs Nicholl <10> the other day, she seems to have enjoyed her Continental trip uncommonly, and she says the notes & memoranda I gave her were of the greatest use, and she even found the rare plants growing in the places which I pointed out.

Kit <11> came up to Town expressly to give his vote on the recent division & then went back to Margam <12> immediately

Kiss the children <13> for me

Your affte
Henry


Notes:

1. James Wright, footman to the Talbots & Constable for Lacock.

2. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.

3. Nicolaas Henneman (1813–1898), Dutch, active in England; WHFT’s valet, then assistant; photographer.

4. William Pullen, Lacock Abbey coachman.

5. Melksham, Wiltshire: market town near Lacock, 2 miles S.

6. Prof Charles Babbage (1792–1871), mathematician & inventor, held a soirée at which some of WHFT’s photogenic drawings were shown. [See Doc. No: 04000].

7. Sir David Wilkie (1785–1841), Scottish artist.

8. Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey (1781–1841), sculptor.

9. This was to be WHFT’s third exhibition of photogenic drawings, reviewed in ‘Fine Arts, Graphic Society’, The Literary Gazette and Journal of belles lettres, science and art, no. 1217, 16 May 1840, pp. 315–316. Sir Charles Wheatstone (1802–1875), scientist.

10. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).

11. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.

12. Margam Park, Glamorgan: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.

13. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter, Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter and Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.