June 29 1868 <1>
My Dear Sir
I am going on the Continent next Friday or Saturday to spend the summer and perhaps also the autumn & winter. If you should be able before that time to inform me of the safe arrival of my plant, I mean that the journey has not checked its flowering – I shall be glad. My address is Athenæum Club, London.<2>
I have a plant which I hope will flower next year very finely, & I will then take it to London to be figured – I should not wish a figure to be taken from the plant I sent you because it is only half grown and “pauciflorus” <3>
Yours vy truly
H. F. Talbot
Professor Balfour
[note added in Balfour's hand:]
Fox Talbot
Notes:
1. ‘June 29’ is written in WHFT’s hand; ‘1868’ is written in an unknown hand, perhaps in response to the dating added by Balfour.
2. Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall, London: WHFT’s club; a gentleman’s club composed primarily of artists and scientists.
3. with few flowers