Bath
Febry 2d
My dear Henry,
The day before we left home Charry <1> received the Books, for which I return you many thanks, p but I wish you wd send me word of their price as soon as possible as I am richer now than I shall be some time hence. We left home on Wednesday. Crocus’s & Snowdrops in blow, & 2 Wood Anemone’s & everything beginning to smile and look gay. We have been here two days & go tomorrow to Bowood <2> & sleep the next night at Redlynch. <3> I want very much to know whether you are in London or Rutlandshire, your next letter will shew. We crossed the passage with a bright Moonlight at 5. o’clock in the morng it seemed very rid odd getting up in the dark to go in a boat, for the Moon did not make its appearance for some time – it was as mild as any summer’s evening. – The mildness of the weather provokes me as it will forward the spring and be the cause of our not seeing the Primroses &c at Penrice <4> where they certainly have a very different look than anywhere else.
I am in great hopes that we shall return by Ilfracomb to Swansea which will be a delightful variation to our journey – We intend visiting Aunt Harriet <5> at Sidmouth & then the distance is nothing compared to returning by Bristol. I think I shou shall be able to collect a good many Sea weeds at Sidmouth & Ilfracomb the latter place Mr Dillwyn <6> says is one of the best in Gt Britain for them. I have found Mary’s <7> present of Turner’s Fuci <8> of great<9> use already – they are very well done tho’ I think without the descriptions they would be of no use in the World. I shall say no more at present because I think a letter that is spun out is one of the dullest things a person can have to read. So here concludes
your affte Cousin
J. H. Talbot.
Wm Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
31 Sackville St
London.
Notes:
1. Charlotte Louisa 'Charry' Traherne, née Talbot (1800–1880), WHFT’s cousin.
2. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
3. Redlynch, Somerset, seat of the Earls of Ilchester (Barons of Redlynch).
4. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
5. Lady Harriet Payne Gallwey (1784-1845), née Quin, wife of Lt Gen Sir William Payne Gallwey (1759-1831), 1st Bart.
6. Lewis Weston Dillwyn (1778–1855), Welsh botanist & MP.
7. Mary Thereza Talbot (1795–1861), WHFT’s cousin.
8. ‘Fuci’, that is ‘seaweeds’. Dawson Turner (1775–1858), botanist, author & banker, Fuci; sive plantarum fucorum generi a botanicis ascriptarum icones, descriptiones et historia, 4 vols. (London, 1808–1819). [See Doc. No: 01440].
9. Text torn away under seal.