[engraved address:]
Merstham,
Red Hill,
Surrey.
Decr 11th
Dear Henry
Many thanks for your kind consideration in writing to tell me that Charles is at Venice – it is a great pleasure to receive a letter from you, and I accept your good wishes of the Season most readily though Christmas is rather distant –
I hope you will find Matilda well, and strong, give her my love, and I shall like some day to hear, if she continues to approve of her Governess –
I hear very good accts of Harriet Mundy, she is better than usual this Winter –
Have you the “Tropæolum Azureum”? I saw it in a garden in our neighbourhood, & admired it very much.
What a useful creeper the Tacsonia Van Volxemii is, it has been blowing here for several weeks –
I wish you could be persuaded to spend a morning at Merstham in the Spring, or summer, as the Train from Charing-cross brings you to our station in ½ an hour –
Wishing you a merry Christmas in Scotland –
Believe me yours Very Truly
Sophia P. Hylton
[envelope:]
Henry Talbot Esqre.
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wiltshire