Monday 3d.August 1818
My Dearest Henry
I have this moment received your second letter from Morpeth, <1> by which it appears you had rain there the very same & only day we had any here. I did not know that part of England was so very beautiful as you describe it. Is Wallington a pretty place? Why dont you tell me all about it. What day do you intend to set forth again on your travels? You have not given me any direction beyond Mr Trevelyan's, <2> but you must have a poste restante somewhere. We go to Burley <3> the 12th August after which day enclose to Lord Winchilsea. <4>
The Lansdownes <5> are gone a Tour to Liverpool & a lounge in Lancashire &c &c & were afraid of being tempted to involve themselves in Lake scenery which would detain them too long from home. Are you likely to come across them anywhere? I suppose not, as they will probably be turned about again before you get into that line of country. Have you heard from Penrice? <6> What are they about - I wish you would write oftener, you need not make your letters longer than you are inclined, but I cannot bear being in total ignorance about you - I am sure this is making the correspondence very easy on your part
Vale delicium meum & mihi, quod potes solatium dato <7>
We have put off going to France till after Christmas - On Friday the 24th the Thermometer was here 92 - What was it with you?
I have been employing Myself in collecting all your goods & chattels into Your own black trunk with the high top. Loose papers, glasses M.S.S. Books, in short all your literary & Botanical litter - & Richard is to keep the key in case you should come to town & want it before we return -
I hope you received the Russian Seeds <8> which I sent a week ago - & have before this sacrificed them to the Venus Horticus at Wallington - pray write me an acct- of that ceremony
William Henry Fox Talbot Esq
Mr J Trevelyan
31 Sackville Street
Wallington
London
Northumberland
Notes:
1. Morpeth, Northumberland.
2. Walter Calverley Trevelyan, 6th Baronet (1797-1879), naturalist & antiquary.
3. Burley, near Oakham, Rutland.
4. George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea (1752-1826).
5. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780-1863), MP, WHFT's uncle; and his wife, Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838; WHFT's aunt.
6. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
7. 'Goodbye, my darling, and give me what comfort you can'. This comes from Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini's (later Pope Pius II), Historia de duobus amantibus, an epistolary novel.
8. See Doc. No: 00781.