Eaton Place
18 April 1852
My dear Talbot
At this moment I cannot undertake to plead for young Phelps: I am labouring under a Flood of Applications, the gate being here closed to one (and so far as personal comfort is concerned I wish they were so still) for some years and people are paying off their arrears, on my head – But I will put your Letter, in my drawer, and when a little interruption takes place, I will see what can be done for the young Man.
Still I must say, I think him vy foolish to wish for a place of such standing: he wd do far better for himself in the Diggings of Australia.
I hope you will let me know when you come to London: we may have a better chance of seeing each other here, than whilst we were locally neighbours,
Yours vy truly
T H S Sotheron
[envelope:]
Hy. Fox Talbot Ere
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham