Cheltenham
29. July 1849.

My dear Sir

The presence of the Bishop at my House, yesterday with a large attendance of the neighbouring Clergy prevented my replying to your letter by return of the post, & indeed before doing so I wished to see M^r Smith & enquire if he had received the two letters you mention as having addressed to him & to w^h you had received no reply -

That no time should be lost I came over this evening & am now writing this at General Smith's House - his son is not yet returned from Suffolk & therefore I am unable to obtain the information I wished

The impression in the family is that your first letter has never reached him especially if addressed "Suffolk" the Post Town of Beccles being Norwich - the 2^nd letter arrived on the 23^rd Ins^t & was forwarded to him the same day & to this second letter I conclude before this you have received an answer -

I am truly concerned that you should have been in-convenienced by this un-toward delay - how it can have arisen I am at a loss to imagine & can only suppose the first letter mis carried

As it is I have mentioned to M^r Smith's family that most probably you have renewed the engagement with your present Tutor in s^h case the negociation could necessarily be at an end but of course you will hear from M^r Smith explaining the cause of his silence -

I think highly of Arnold's Exercises both Verse & Prose^<1>

- but they are rather difficult for beginners chiefly from the frequent references - quite as an elementary Book I think Clarke's Lat. Exercises the best to make a boy thoroughly acquainted with concords & general construction - & it has the advantage of being very plain & easy - Afterwards perhaps for a little while [Ellis?] may be a good Book the whole data not being supplied - this or "Henry's 1^st Book" I sh^d recommend & then Arnold's Latin Exercises, 1^st part. In this a boy meets with niceties of language & critical distinctions

I shall only be too happy to reply to any questions as to your little boys course of reading &c -

I had the pleasure the great pleasure - of seeing when in Town Lord & Lady M^t Edgcumbe & I hope to do so again shortly as they have requested me to pay a visit to M^t Edgcumbe as soon as they get down there - I found Valletort very much grown, & looking extremely well

I fear I have troubled you with a long letter w^h I will now therefore close remaining

My dear Sir Y^rs Very Sincerely
H A S Atwood

P. S. One Bishop who claims you as an old Pupil enquired after you yesterday - I mentioned I had heard from you that very Morning.

[envelope:]
H. Fox Talbot Esq^re.
Lacock Abbey
nr Chippenham
Wilts

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Notes:

1. Talbot's university friend Thomas Kerchever Arnold was the author of several Latin works that went through several editions, including his 1843 An introduction to the composition of Latin verse; containing rules and exercises intended to illustrate the manners, customs, and opinions mentioned by the Roman poets, and to render familiar the principal idioms of the Latin language; and his 1847 Ellisian exercises, adapted to the first part of the Practical introduction to Latin prose composition.