Sunday Night
My Dear Henry
I saw twelve of your pictures at Lord Northamptons <1> the day after the Meeting of Savans, but only 6 were sent by me – the others he said were sent from (I think) the Royal Society. <2> Now the twelve are all here.
Tuesday.
I had not time to go on with this Letter, being too busy about my ball and helping Louise <3> to write cards for her’s, which she is going to give for the Queen. <4> Newmann <5> was comblé <6> by the very good photographs you sent him for Metternich <7> but will not rest without knowing where to get the Memoir <8> you published giving an account of the manner of doing it, which several people had assured him was only published in the philosophical transactions
If I knew the exact title of it I would have got it for him. Every time I meet him he reproaches me for not having procured this piece of Knowledge for him, he only asks for the name of the publication
Afflly Yrs
EF
Pray tell Constance <9> that if Mary Anne <10> is returned from Mt Edgcumbe <11> I wish her to be sent up here directly – now pray don’t forget this
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esre
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts
Notes:
1. Spencer Joshua Aiwyne, 2nd Marquess of Northampton (1790–1851). [See Doc. No: 04023.]
2. Royal Society of London.
3. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), wife of Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838; WHFT's aunt.
4. Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom (1837–1901), Empress of India (1876–1901).
5. Baron Philipp Freiherr von Neumann (1781-1851), Austrian diplomat. [See Doc. No: 04013, Doc. No: 04002].
6. Overwhelmed.
7. Prince Klemens Wenzel Lothar Metternich-Winneburg (1773–1859), chancellor of Austria 1821–1848.
8. WHFT, Some Account of the Art of Photogenic Drawing, or the Process by which Natural Objects may be made to Delineate Themselves without the Aid of the Artist’s pencil. Read before the Royal Society, January 31, 1839 (London: R & J E Taylor, 1839).
9. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
10. The daughter of Lord Northampton. [See Doc. No: 04023].
11. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.