Kilm <1>
Sepr 26.
Dear Talbot
We had a second meeting at G.H.<2> the 8th of last month - more brilliant than the first - a large accession of new Members - Ld Bath Col à Court <3> &c gave in their adhesion, & were present & there is a long list of Aspirants for 1833. There has also been a Meeting at Fonthill<4> - but that was a sort of Picnic independent of the Selwoods <5> - on a smaller scale. as [sic] an experiment it answered well & next year, one of our reunions (for the convenience of the Wiltshire members) will probably be there.
Why were not you with us? we advertised in Three Papers - the Bath - the Salisbury & the Sherborne Mercury. - had you only put your Glass to yr eye at Laycock - you must have seen our Signal Flag floating on Alfreds Tower<6> - I should have written to you - but we were so bothered about the getting up of our Drama - that several of the Dram: Pers: slipped thro' our fingers you amongst the number - in truth our house was fuller than it would hold - & we could only have offerd you a squeeze which you might not have liked - but as yr Sponsor to the honourable the S.F- I depend upon you for the first meeting next year of which you shall have timely notice by Telegraph Fiery Cross<7> - or otherwise - & pray remember the more neophytes <8>you can bring us the better.
So our worthy Sherrif H Egleston[?] Esqre Secr & Treasr Wincanton has favoured you with one of his polite duns<9> - why did not you read yr Peagreen letter? You would then have discovered that tho an unworthy Manager - I have not the honour of being Depty Treasurer of the S:F- & that the pain & penalties of Defamation are very terrific - disfranchisement is nothing to them - but you are in good time - & I will transmit yr cheque to the Wincanton Bank. - There will be a reprint of our Circular soon - by which the former you will see that the Subscription for the year 1832 is one guinea & a half - (with a guinea entrance for all new members balloted for). I think you were admitted before the ballot took place - consequently you have paid half a guinea too much - but at our last general meeting at Stourhead - with a view to the purchase of a Tent for the accommodation of the Ladies it was proposed & agreed unanimously - that the subscription for the year 1833 should be continued at one guinea & a half - instead of one guinea as appears in the Peagreen - so you will have only one guinea to pay for 1833.
I was in yr neighbourhood about a fortnight ago - on a visit to my old Friend the Dean of Christ Church at Iford. <10>I got on my Pony intending to call on you one fair morning but within 3 miles of [illegible deletion] Laycock Pony fell lame - & I had much ado to get back in time for dinner - [illegible] - I dare say I missed - if not the disappointment of finding you not at home - the sight of a great many rare & curious Plants & other things well worth a 20 miles ride - we are going to Marston <11>today so I am scrabbling away for a frank - kind remembrances from Mrs S and me to Mr Fielding & Lady Elizabeth <12>
I am yrs truly
Townshend Selwyn
My only botanical acquaintance in the Isle of Wight is Mr Dust - (an ominous name for [illegible]) Gardener to Mr Nash at Cowes Castle,<13> plenty of houses but no plants there.
Frome September 1832 twenty eight Ch[illegible] ton
Henry Talbot Esq
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Dorset
Wales
[on verso:]
Post Office
Bangor
North Wales
Notes:
1. Kilmington, Somerset.
2. Possibly Great Hinton, a Wiltshire hamlet between Kinlmingon and Lacock Abbey.
3. Thomas Thynne, 2nd Marquess of Bath (1765-1837). A relative of Sir William á'Court, 1st Baron Heytesbury (1779-1860), possibly Lt-General Charles á'Court (1785-1861).
4. Fonthill, Wiltshire.
5. The Selwood Foresters, an archery society and social club that attracted wealthy members and held regular archery competitions.
6. Alfred's Tower is a triangular folly built in 1772 in the gardens of the Palladian Mansion at Stourhead, Wiltshire.
7. The cross style telegraph was invented in France in 1792 and consistedof an upright post with movable arms; their relative positions would signal various messages. In the Middle Ages a fiery cross raised on the British coast announced the approach of the Normans. Sir Walter Scott popularised its employment by the clans in The Lady of the Lake.
8. New converts or new members.
9. Talbot was being politely chased for his dues. He had sent his cheque to Townshend, mistakingly thinking he was the Deputy Treasurer, so it then had to be sent on to the Wincanton Bank.
10. The Dean of Christchurch College was Thomas Gaisford (1779-1855), of Iford Manor, Wiltshire, Curator of the Bodleian Library. His son, Capt Thomas Gaisford (1816-1898), would marry WHFT's half-sister Horatia in 1850.
11. Marston, Wiltshire, slightly south of Lacock Abbey.
12. Misspellings for Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780-1837), Royal Navy; WHFT's step-father, and Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773-1846), WHFT's mother.
13. John Nash (1798-1835), architect of Cowes Castle in the Isle of Wight.
14. Readdressed in another hand.