Dear Sir
But for illness, & inflamation [sic] in my eyes I should have finish’d my Auto-Biography ere this time; but must now defer it till the ensuing autumn; as I want to rest my eyes & head – & form obtain a little respite from the wear & tear of brain which I feel has been overwork’d – I have finished my retrospections of Chippenham – Bowood – Castle Combe <1> & some other places – also of certain publick persons with whom I became acquainted at the end of the last and beginning of the present century. Amongst these were the 1st Marquis of Lansdowne <2> – Bowles <3>, Moore <4>, Crabbe, Wm Scrope, Sadler of Chippenham, Jas Montayn – Paul Cobb Methuen <5>, &c.
I have to thank you for a few facts relating to Lacock Abbey, & regret that I have not seen much of that edifice since you came into possession. Should I visit the neighbourhood, this Summer, I hope you will allow me to renew my acquaintance with it – I have a ground plan of the buildings – also a very beautiful Drawing of the apartment, called the Kitchin [sic]. I have also a good view of the church –
I presume you know the Engraving of the Cloister, with description, in my Architectural Antiquities?
Perhaps we may calculate on the pleasure of seeing you at Salisby in Augt next, to meet the members of “the Wiltshire Archæologl & Natural History Society” – under the Presidency of Mr S. Herbert – with Mr Scrope – Mr Sotheron & many other Wiltshire Gentn
My Wiltshire collection of Books, MSS – Models – drawings – prints &c is deposited at Devizes, under the charge of a county Society –
I am Yrs truly
J Britton
17 Burton St – Burton Crest
June 5/54
H. F– Talbot Esq
T.O[envelope:]
H. F Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wiltshe
Greta Bank
Keswick
Cumberland
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N, Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne and Castle Combe, Wiltshire, 7 mi NW of Lacock.
2. William, 2nd Earl of Shelbourne (d. 1805), prime minister under George III.
3. Possibly Rev William Lisle Bowles (1762–1850), Wiltshire poet & antiquary.
4. Possibly Thomas Moore (1780–1852), Irish poet.
5. Paul Methuen, Baron Methuen (1779–1849), MP.