Wednesday
My Dear Henry
I was very much amused by Lord Northampton <1> who stenuously resisted the introduction of your photographs chez lui <2> thinking they were by some pretender to your discovery but when he found that Fox Talbot was my son and identical with the supposed pretender who wanted (he thought) to dispute your discovery) he immediately changed his tone & Lady Maryanne <3> came to make apologies for their stupidity as she said, and is to call here the day before the Meeting of Savans to take the m Photographs there in her carriage. They have been covered with a Napkin ever since you left town. I send a parcel with Ela’s <4> Map in it, which ought to arrive at Laycock tomorrow. Lord Palmerston <5> has consented to raise the rank of Frankfort & Wm <6> has accepted. He does not raise the Salary which is £2600 & one thousand a year less than Turin. He is going down next week to Abbotsbury & Mt Edgcumbe <7> but he is still at the F.O.
Henry Fox Talbot
Notes:
1. Spencer Joshua Aiwyne, 2nd Marquess of Northampton (1790–1851).
2. At his place.
3. The daughter of Lord Northampton. [See Doc. No: 04051].
4. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
5. Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784–1865), statesman.
6. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.
7. Abbotsbury, Dorset: home of William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, and Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.