Boulogne.
Monday. 14 Augst
My dear Son Mein theurest Sohn <1>
If you have any thoughts of bringing a Walley de Sham into these parts don’t let it be such a useless corporation as the last, but in fact you will not want the animal I should th<ink> <2> if you go the tour you pro<pose> to Spa &c &c Why don’t you write? Caroline & Horatia <3> are learning to draw flowers to assist your botanical researches among the Apennines – don’t you like Lord John Russell <4> for his forcible letter to Mr Wilberforce <5> – I hear Ministers are much annoyed, which is a proof it is well done, & que cela leur pique au vif – adieu carissime <6>
W. H. Fox Talbot
Trinity College
Cambridge
Dover Ship Letter <7>
Notes:
1. My dearest son.
2. Text torn away under seal.
3. 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.
4. Lord John Russell (1792–1878), statesman.
5. William Wilberforce (1759–1833), Evangelican reformer.
6. That it has stung them sharply – goodbye dearest.
7. Printed text.