Laycock abbey
12 March
My Dear Henry
Look at the new iron railings of the balcony & tell me if they are painted stone colour.
Remembering you regretted a Guelder rose that once grew here, I have bought two & planted them where I think their snowy flowers will have a fine effect on a dark back ground. The Euphrates seeds are not come up, how should they? the Sun has not shone above twice since you went. When I got up this Morning the ground was covered with Snow, & it is still on Bowden Hill. <1> The Lecturer says he finds this a much more intellectual place than either Melksham or Chippenham. <2> But Wooton [sic] Bassett was the worst. They are regular Autocthones Sons of Earth, & regardless of the Stars <3> think of nothing but the soil. all our servants attended both Evenings, Reid <4> is evidently le mieux-instruit <5> upon all scientific subjects, which is generally the case in his country. I have been taking up some Ontario poplars, for it will not do to cut them down, they are such inveterate shooters. Kit <6> taught me to clean & varnish pictures when he was here, & I have produced some good results, but nothing supereminent. He thinks some of them quite good enough for furniture pictures, but unluckily there is no place for them. The South Gallery walls are not I fear solid enough, or we don’t know where abouts to find any wood behind the plaister, to which to fasten pictures. Otherwise that would have been an admirable place, & pictures would warm the cold walls. I have thoughts of taking Olive <7> up to town with me to be repaired, it is a curious picture & worthy of being well done besides the interest one takes in her. I have just discovered a small picture black with dirt & age, which I think will turn out very good. It was in the Old Housekeeper’s room, next to where Delorme <8> sleeps. Kit found a very good Dutch picture in the Servants Hall at Penrice, <9> & sent it to London to be Cleaned. It now occupies a conspicuous place in the Drawing room there.
Affly yours
E T F
Reid says he has seen seeds from the Euphrates take a year to come up.
I have been talking again to Blackham <10> about the sand – They have not returned to take any since – and 1 penny a bushel is settled to be the price. But Mr A. <11> cannot come over except of a Monday, & therefore tomorrow I shall spirit him up to demand payment for what they have taken, one waggon load & two Cart loads, & would have gone on taking ever since if Blackham had not stopped them. 1 penny a bushel will be good pay B. says. Croker was from hence & his Mother is a cripple
Notes:
1. Bowden Hill, Wiltshire, 1 mi SE of Lacock.
2. Melksham, Wiltshire: market town near Lacock, 2 miles S and Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
3. See Doc. No: 03471.
4. John Reid, head gardener at Lacock Abbey.
5. The best taught.
6. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
7. See Doc. No: 03488.
8. Cook.
9. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
10. James Blackham was listed in 1826 as being a tenant of Lacock.
11. Mr Awdry.