Redlynch <1>
25th Oct. 1816
My Dear Henry
I like your devise very much but it would not be applicable to a seal I think. I admire that five words express in the Greek what takes twelve to render into English. Here I send you an Italian Motto which would do for a seal for to give to a friend, it hast[?] I think so, tell me your opinion.; Le corps du devise should be Il Sole & l'ame <2>. Tutto cangia quaggiu Ma tu non campi! - or else Tutto cangia quaggiu! Ma tu giammai eterna lampo, non tu campi! <3>
The person near Colchester will not do, we are now enquiring about one at in Northamptonshire <4>- you will in time be intimate with various parts of this Island.
I wish you to ride more equally, I mean more constantly & less violently. Strengthening your constitution will very much depend on regular exercise, & as the human body depends mainly on the stomach & riding does more for that essential organ than anything in the world, I wish you very particularly to pay attention to this, as now you are at an age to do more for your health by your own attention than anybody can do for you. But very long rides are destructive. We have had very fine weather with drying winds for ten days, but to day it rains in torrents. I have taken to observe the weather you see as you wished to know
Adieu
Wincanton Octr twenty six 1816 Auckland <5>
Hy Fox Talbot Esqr
Revd Mr Barnes
Castleford
Ferrybridge
Notes:
1. Redlynch, Somerset, seat of the Earls of Ilchester (Barons of Redlynch).
2. The sun and the soul.
3. Everything changes down here but you don't change! Everything changes down here! But you, eternal light, you do not change.
4. The 'new person' was presumably a suitable tutor for WHFT, one to replace Mr Barnes.
5. George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland (1784-1849), Governor General of India.