Melbury <1>
April 8th
My dear Henry,
I cannot bear that the communication between you & I shd be so very seldom as it has lately, I am aware that altho' I wrote last I ought to have yo written two Letters to thank you properly for the presents you sent. We have been staying at Deans Leaze and Abbotsbury <2> since I wrote last and have been enjoying ourselves extremely. Whilst I was at D. L. I found a Jungermanniad (or perhaps as Aunt C. <3> thinks a Marcantia) it is very large for a Jungermanniad but I think there is but one Martia that divides in four which this did. it was very much like this but some much longer, we like wise found two more in fruit both unknown to me - Pterogonium Smithis is so common in Dorsetshire that I have hardly seen an Elm without it. Aunt Charlotte has been talking about a so new substance called Ulmine,<4> which is only found on Elm Trees - now Sir as you are learned in those subjects & live in the way of hearing of those sort of things I beg you will send me the history of its birth, parentage, & education
How goes on your Astronomy I think the weather for the last week has been very favorable [sic] for it. I only wish you could teach me a little for my taste always was for it [illegible deletion]. Charry <5> & I now talk loud ive to astonish the world about [missing text]<6> and &c. Christopher <7> has (as I conclude you know) left Harrow <8> for good - I must say I think they are going on rather oddly there at present from Kit's description - I shall make him write to you if I can as I think it will entertain you to hear how they have been proceeding -
your aff Coz ..
Jane T.
Sherborne, April Nine, 1817 Ilchester <9>
W. H. F. Talbot Esqr
Revd Mr Bonney's <10>
Normanton
Rutlandshire
Notes:
1. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.
2. Deans Leaze, Dorset, and Abbotsbury, Dorset: home of William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways.
3. Lady Charlotte Anne Lemon, née Strangways (d. 1826), WHFT's aunt.
4. An exsudation (seepage) from the bark of the elm, discovered in 1804.
5. Charlotte Louisa 'Charry' Traherne, née Talbot (1800-1880), WHFT's cousin.
6. Text torn away by seal.
7. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803-1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT's Welsh cousin.
8. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811-1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.
9. Franked by Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787-1858).
10. Thomas Kaye Bonney (1782-1863), Archdeacon of Leicester.