Laycock Abbey
23d August
My Dear Henry
a man who was described to me as very respectable looking, called here this Morning & wished to see you. He said he wanted to tell you how much your Art had injured his trade, he is an Engraver by profession. I am sorry I did not see him, I would have endeavoured to convince him of the contrary. I was out, & Emma <1> brought me some specimens of his savoir faire, of which I bought a few. She told me afterwards that he was very grateful, & said it was a great charity, for he was entirely thrown out of work by you & Your Daguerreotype. <2> Porter <3> brought me to day ten which he did yesterday, I have locked them up. I could give him a better piece of Lace, if he has is capable of making an original –
Pray write
affty yrs
E F
Horatia <4> found an immense party at Dunraven Castle <5>
I wrote to you yesterday & hope you have had it –
Notes:
1. Emma Thomasina Llewelyn, née Talbot (1806–1881), photographer; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
2. One of WHFT's frustrations was the confusion between the processes - his calotypes were often called 'Daguerreotypes on paper.'
3. Charles Porter (b. 1828), a servant at Lacock Abbey, was the frequent subject of photographs, and occasionally also photographic assistant.
4. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
5. Dunraven Castle, Glamorganshire belonged to Thomas Wyndham. [See Doc. No: 00554].