I am very glad to hear that you have a plant for me from Fontainbleau. Anything from thence is likely to be curious, for it is a famous field for botany. Madame de Genlis <1> in one of her stories makes a botanist keep a whole party waiting for him, who are just setting off for Paris from Languedoc, because he must cannot leave the country without collecting specimens of a plant which is not to be found in the neighbourhood of Paris, pas même à Fontainbleau. <2> I thought M. Thouin had the whole management of the Jardin des Plantes. <3> - The weather is remarkably fine for harvest - fortunately. I am trying to make a burning mirror to melt lead &c. I don't know how I shall succeed. I have not heard anything of or from William. I have some Millet growing in my Garden: It is not so pretty as I expected. I have been at several cricket matches at Burley: <4> they have one tomorrow. Partridge shooting has not yet commenced here.
I remain Yr Affte Son
W. H. F. Talbot
Normanton 7th Septemb. 1817.
A great many of the Cape Seeds are come up in Trevelyan's <5> Garden.
The Lady Elisth Feilding
31 Sackville St
London
Feilding 1/4 <6>
Notes:
1. Stéphanie-Félicité du Crest de Saint-Aubin, Comtesse de Genlis (1746-1830), writer and educator.
2. Not even at Fontainbleau.
3. Also known as the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris. Its head was André Thouin (1747-1824) botanist and professor of horticulture. His brothers Gabriel and Jean were also involved with the Jardin, and he exchanged seeds with Thomas Jefferson.
4. Burley, near Oakham, Rutland, the home of George Finch, the 9th Earl of Winchilsea (1752-1826). He was a founding father of English cricket, had his own cricket patch and even drafted the Burley servants in on his side. He provided 'handsome entertainment' after the games.
5. Walter Calverley Trevelyan, 6th Baronet (1797-1879), naturalist & antiquary.
6. Written in another hand at the back of address panel.