link to Talbot Project home page link to De Montfort University home page link to Glasgow University home page
Project Director: Professor Larry J Schaaf
 

Back to the letter search >

Result number 982 of 997:   < Back     Back to results list   Next >  

Document number: 5497
Date: 31 Dec 1845
Postscript: 1 Jan 1846
Recipient: FEILDING Elisabeth Theresa, née Fox Strangways
Author: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA45-181
Last updated: 1st September 2003

Reading

31st December 1845

My Dear Mother

I made a night journey to Brighton, and on that occasion your silk hood kept me very warm and comfortable. We had tremendous weather at Worthing, and it still continues without abatement. How it blows tonight! and rains!

If you are at Bowood <1> ask whether Macaulay’s <2> letter was published in breach of confidence, or whether he intended it for publication – He says Lord Grey <3> has done it all!

Nicole <4> has finished a greatly improved copy of the Prince of Wales <5> – I think it is very finely executed.

January 1st 1846

What a splendid day! A frost is coming on, and there is a complete change in the appearance of everything.

The weather at Worthing was not enjoyable on account of the rain which precluded exercise.

The paper C. Jones <6> sent, appears to be a French imitation of Whatman’s <7> English paper, with a fraudulent watermark. I return to Town this evening – Many happy new years

Your affte

Henry


Notes:

1. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.

2. Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800–1859), MP & historian.

3. Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (1764–1845), statesman.

4. Nicolaas Henneman (1813–1898), Dutch, active in England; WHFT’s valet, then assistant; photographer.

5. Edward VII (1841–1910), King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British dominions and Emperor of India from 1901. [See Doc. No: 05470].

6. Rev Calvert Richard Jones (1802–1877), Welsh painter & photographer. [See Doc. No: 05496].

7. James Whatmans’ Turkey Mill paper was favoured by watercolourists and was the most suitable paper available for early photography. Rag-based, its wove surface (as opposed to the more common chain-laid) provided a uniform base for prints and a patternless density for negatives. Its gelatin sizing (compared with the rosin sizing used for continental papers) was ideal for photographic chemistry. Being made by hand, there were variations between batches even in this high quality paper, and certain years were sought after. It was generally watermarked with the year of manufacture.

Result number 982 of 997:   < Back     Back to results list   Next >