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Document number: 08345
Date: Wed 20 Mar 1861
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: TALBOT Constance, née Mundy
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA61-50
Last updated: 7th March 2012

11 Moray Place
March 20th Wednesday

My dear Henry

I have received your letter of the 18th with Enclosures – and I see by what you say that you have quite mistaken my motive in sending the scheme of agreement for your perusal. It contained a few details which I had not touched upon, and which I now regret I did not copy out, rather than to have alarmed you by the sight of the complete document at such an early stage of the enquiry – Mr Greive had no expectation that you would sign anything so hastily – but he called upon me last Saturday (as I told you) with this new copy of terms of agreement in his pocket – to shew it me, as being similar to a rough draft of agreement with the present Tenant Mr Borthwick – and he civilly proposed that I should send it to you or not, as I thought proper. I have clearly stated to Mr Grieve your objection to take a house for more than one year certain – but I have held out strong hopes that we may be so far pleased with Millburn Tower<1> (after the 12 month’s trial) as to wish to agree for a longer term. – This expression of hope does no harm, but rather inclines him favorably to treat with us – You must recollect that he is acting with joint trustees for in the interest of the Minor, Sir Liston Fowlis, his nephew – The consent of the other trustees must be obtained by him to any terms that you may wish to propose – Mr Grieve is a gentleman, not a house agent – and I have so thoroughly explained to him what you repeat in your letter today, that I will wait to hear from you again, before troubling him further on the subject. After three previous inspections of the House, I again went over with him yesterday by railway to Gogar (from whence it is six or seven minutes walk to Millburn) – This visit was for the express purpose of pointing out to Mr Grieve a few things that I thought necessary to be put in order in the offices – and I found him very civil & quite willing to accede to my wishes – He shewed me what had been done last year, – all in perfectly good taste: – and with the true feeling of what is suitable in a gentleman’s house. I have, as you will believe, made a careful examination into everything, and I have now no hesitation in saying that I am sure you will be pleased with this House. – I have admired it each time I have been over – it is so thoroughly well built, all in handsome free stone – and the architectural design is pleasing – Goodwin has been over twice – & myself as I said, 4 times – The others have each seen it once. – So I think we are all more or less competent to hazard an opinion: and we all agree in the feeling that you expressed in a former letter, that “it is the sort of place we are in search of.” – I suggested to Mr Grieve yesterday that he should give time for your coming to view the place before proceeding further; to which he replied, that he had no offer at the present moment, except for the Summer Season, (which he is refusing almost daily) but that there was always a risk in delay – Lord Dunfermline is looking for a place near Edinburgh & at a convenient distance from Colligton, where the Widow of the late Lord resides – and we think he is very likely to apply for Millburn Tower – The present tenant too, Mr Borthwick, is a very changeable man, and may [illegible deletion] possibly request a renewal of his term when he comes home at the end of this month; but should he do so, Mr Grieve would feel bound by the rules of courtesy, to accede to such wish, unless he had previously agreed with yourself. –

And now, having put you in possession of all the facts, as far as I can by writing, I wait your further instructions: and I keep the papers you have enclosed to me today, till your next letter arrives – I will then say to Mr Grieve anything you wish – but of course you will write to him yourself, proposing terms. –

There is a Book at Lacock Abbey which I wish you would send me by Book post – & I think you will find it easily on the shelves in the Lobby outside the Library door, unless those books were moved during alterations of the Cabinet passage. – It is entitled “How to pass Lent, Holily,” as nearly as I can recollect. – It is a single vol. Octavo, bound in black, & titled lettered on the back –

I have tried to express in this letter, that we do not wish, any more than yourself, to take Millburn Tower for more than one year certain – it is quite necessary that we should be free to leave it or not, as we like at the end of that time. –

You should recollect that the ‘three years clause’ was inserted before my conversation with Mr Grieve on Saturday – and that when he came to that part in reading it over to me, he stopped & remarked that this would have to be altered – I think I said so in my last letter to you. – Pray answer me something by return of Post, that I may get it on Saturday – as Mr Grieve will of course be expecting some kind of message from, me – by that time.

And don’t fancy that I shall say anything to him, but what is in accordance with you expressed wishes –

Please to tell Charles that I am sorry I omitted to give him the address of Mr Wake at Cheltenham. It is 6 Pitteville 6 Pittville Lawn.

I hope Charles will have had a good journey to Lacock – and tell him I shall expect to hear from him.

Your affectionate
Constance

Notes:

1. Millburn Tower, Gogar, just west of Edinburgh; the Talbot family made it their northern home from June 1861 to November 1863. It is particularly important because WHFT conducted many of his photoglyphic engraving experiments there. The house had a rich history. Built for Sir Robert Liston (1742-1836), an 1805 design by Benjamin Latrobe for a round building was contemplated but in 1806 a small house was built to the design of William Atkinson (1773-1839), best known for Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford. The distinctive Gothic exterior was raised in 1815 and an additional extension built in 1821. Liston had been ambassador to the United States and maintained a warm Anglo-American relationship in the years 1796-1800. His wife, the botanist Henrietta Liston, nιe Marchant (1751-1828) designed a lavish American garden, sadly largely gone by the time the Talbots rented the house .