Melbury <1>
14th November
My Dear Henry
I am very sorry I did not write to you before, as you seem to have expected it, but I waited to hear from you, as you had most to tell. Your Letter <2> is very amusing as far as it goes, but tho’ I laughed at the Furies <3> qui ronflent <4> yet I was very much disappointed to find they were not followed by any account of your own feelings in your new situation. I am most anxious to hear all about it, & nothing you can tell me can be too minute to satisfy le c œur d’une Mère. <5> I want to know whether you have any place to lock up your Letters because till then I must suppress many things I should like to say & to ask, but I should not like to subject myself or you to the animadversions of Servants or people who may not have high notions of honor, or who cannot withstand their curiosity. Tu comprends – j’en suis sure <6> I received yr Letter <7> from Ferrybridge with the account of a parabolic Zeron[?] & an Epigram upon Helen, <8> but not Hellenic – Le[t me] <9> know if I can send yo[u] any[thing] that will please you -. Perhaps a Writing box with a patent Key would be a present suitable for the occasion
Let me know &
God Bless you –
My Blessing!
Sherborne Novr fourteen 1815 Auckland <10>
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Revd Mr Barnes
Castleford
Ferrybridge –
Notes:
1. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.
2. See Doc. No: 00672.
3. A reference to the Furies mentioned in Æschylus’s tragedy of Eumenides. [See Doc. No: 00672].
4. Who snore.
5. A mother’s heart.
6. You understand – I’m sure.
7. Letter not located.
8. Probably Helen of Troy, wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta.
9. Text torn away under seal.
10. George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland (1784–1849), Governor General of India. The address panel is written in his hand.