My dearest Henry
We arrived here safe & without rain at 20 Min past 5. having stopped ¼ of an Hour at Reading – Lady E & the Girls <1> are a little tired but I hope a good night will set them up – I did not understand that the Terrace was to be carried out square as I see it marked on the ground. I have great doubts as to the straight Line without any break being adviseable & I have much hesitation in undertaking to execute in your absence what really requires so much consideration. & there is a difficulty to a certain extent about the spring, which is never below a certain level & the overflowings of which need to run off down the Ha Ha but which will now be enclosed in the Terrace altogether. I should prefer very much making at present only the ditch & wall in front o the exact length & corresponding with the south Front of the House. this would enable me to get rid of the Front Handles & all the rubbish & the Handles at the side being enfiladed from the road would be hardly perceived. your Mother thinks a break at the ends of the Terrace would look well south A B your proposed boundary <2> [illegible] do you like it, & to obtain it, would you build the line A nearer the House or B beyond the line now pegged out according to your Plan. as the break would only begin where the wall I propose to build ends, you rid need not decide on that now, or till you are on the spot – the only thing for you to settle is if you will have the wall where you have drawn it to be or farther in – – Pray write to us<3> often – but you are always so good natured I need not mention that. we shall constantly & to Geneva – Depend on me for nothing being done which can be avoided.
May God Almighty bless & please you my dearest. you know how dear you are to us all –
C.F.
W. H. Fox Talbot Esqre
31 Sackville St
London
Notes:
1. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother, Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister and Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister
2. This text acompanies an illustration.
3. Missing text.