Laycock Abbey
2d February
My Dear Henry
Have you heard of our dissipations? Besides company all last week we ended by dining yesterday with Mr Sotheron! <1> I have not dined out of this house for 8 years. But he is such a favorite of mine I make an exception in his favour. He expressed himself warmly about you, & amongst other things said he wished extremely that whenever you felt languid in muggy weather or dyspeptic, you would walk up there & eat a mutton chop, & he was convinced such a regîme [sic] would preclude the necessity of going to Brighton for change of air. Certainly that is a very cold house & exposed to every wind that blows, & I dare say very wholsome [sic] but I actually caught a rhumatic cold from the winds of the Dining room –
This is Charles’s <2> birthday He has been extremely happy all day with his firm Paper Kite, & a mug I gave him with his own name on it
affly yrs
E F
[envelope:]
H. Fox Talbot Esr.
31. Sackville Street
London
Notes:
1. Thomas Henry Sutton Sotheron Bucknall Estcourt (1801–1876), MP.
2. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.