Dear Talbot
The forces of stupid but and most amazing business has made me commit innumerable offences – I wish I had in all cases as friendly & indulgent a judge as yourself. Lady Theodosia <1> long since gave me a commission to execute in which you are concerned & the neglect of this duty has exposed to many reproaches from my own conscience as well as my family. Lady Theodosia is very much obliged to you indeed for the source of pleasure you have give to her & to our little circle in your Legendary tales <2> – to make a family party happy by giving them a very interesting book to read aloud is a great reward because it is conferring a great pleasure. His reward is yours
Always truly yours
T Spring Rice
Henry Fox Talbot Esq
Sackville St
Notes:
1. Lady Theodosia Hale, 1st wife of Thomas Spring Rice, 2nd daughter of Edmund Henry Pery, 1st earl of Limerick ( m. 1811, d. 1839).
2. William Henry Fox Talbot (1800–1877), Legendary Tales in Verse and Prose, Collected by H. Fox Talbot, Esq. (London: James Ridgway, 1830).