Estcourt
Tetbury
9 Jany <1854>
My dear Talbot
In looking over the old Family Papers at this House, I find many curious old Deeds, about the size of this side of Note paper, on parchments, beginning in the last year of Henry 3d to the end of Edwd 4 – After which period they cease to be curiosities. I want a copy of them, and it has occurred to me that the most accurate mode of making it, would be by your Process of Photography –
Will you give me your opinion, whether you think this would be a good Method, and whether you can recommend me a person, competent to create the Likeness, who would come down here, and do it for me, as I do not like to trust the Deeds out of my own possession.
I remember that you<r old? > servant set up in this Line: would he suit?
When you answer this, do tell me something about yourself and Mrs Talbot. We have lost you for <illeg> a twelvemonth – Why did you not attend the Archæological Meetings at Devizes? They were interesting –
Believe me
yours truly
THS Sotheron