Munich. Bavaria - 19th July 1824
Sir,
I received this morning your letter of the 19th June, informing me that the committee of the Athenĉum <1> have done me the honour of electing me a member, and I have accordingly directed Messrs Hammersley <2> to pay the entrance fee & annual subscription- I take this opportunity of saying that a mistake has been made in my name, which I request may be corrected, and have the honor to be Sir
Your obdt servant
W. H. Fox Talbot
[While at first this signature would imply that WHFT preferred this style of address at this stage in his life, contrary to other evidence, the emphasis may well have been in response to the following letter (S.M.S. 478/20/21), sent to his Welsh cousin, CRM Talbot <3>:]
Sir
The enclosed having been delivered to me by mistake,<4> I beg to return it to you. I think it possible it may have been meant for W.H. Fox Talbot who is now at Baden-
I am Sir very Obliged
Chr. R M Talbot
Southampton June 29
Dowager Lady Ilchester
Notes:
1. Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall, London, a gentlemans club. On 5 March 1824, WHFT had eagerly written to his mother that 'They are forming a new club of 500 members, of persons attached to literature science or the Arts I am a member, I think it will be useful in enabling one to meet people otherwise inaccessible' - see Doc. No: 01174.
2. Hammersley & Co, bankers, London.
3. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot, 'Kit' (1803-1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT's Welsh cousin.
4.This was one of two letters addressed to 'Strangeways Fox Talbot Esqr' and sent to Kit Talbot (the other has not been located) - see Doc. No: 01192.