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Document number: 2560
Date: 06 Jan 1833
Dating: year assumed by WHFT's marriage
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: SELWYN Townshend
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: Acc 27186 (envelope)
Last updated: 7th March 2015

Kilmington
Jany 6

Dear Talbot.

Felicitations, they say, are out of fashion - & of all written Supererogations <1> - the most super erogatory - are letters Congratulatory to those who are too happy to read them. but I am a stickler for ancient usages - (not an antireformer) & for however & old acquaintance sake you must allow me heartily to wish you joy, on two events <2> which in the life of Man social & political are usually accounted fortunate & fit subjects for congratulation - & which we all here - hope may prove especially so in yours -

We heard with great pleasure of you success both at Chippenham <3> - & Markeaton <4> the first duly announced in the Herald - the latter more quietly but pointedly Heralded by the arrival at Kilmington of an authentic wedge of Wedding Cake. Health & happiness to the Bride & Bridegroom - many & Merry Xmas & happy new year till three times three &c &c - have of course not been omitted. but this is not all - as one of the vice Presidents of the Wilts Horticultural, of which you are, or ought to be a member, I am authorised to complement you upon having transplanted from the wilds of Derbyshire into the joy & blooming gardens of Wiltshire - a rare and beautiful plant, of the family Rosa Mundis - which unknown to Linnaeus or Jussieu <5> will doubtless prove a most valuable acquisition and flourish under the care of so skilful a botanist - As one of the Managers of the Selwood Foresters, to which you belong - I am instructed to say that having twice hit the mark you aimed at and carried off the principal Prizes you cannot be permitted by the rules of the Society to shoot for them at the next meeting. but we hope you will not fail to be present, & to bring with you Mrs H Talbot, whom we cannot help already consider as a member of the Honorable Society of the S.F. & whose name we hope to be permitted to insert in our List. In this you must have been very ill induced to read all this nonsense & hold the best thing you can do is to burn it

in the mean time believe me yrs very sincerely
Townshend Selwyn

Henry Talbot Esqre MP
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham


Notes:

1. Works not required absolutely, but may be done for perfection of the individual.

2. WHFT's election as an MP and his marriage to Constance Mundy (1811-1880).

3. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N. This was one of the regular archery competitions of the Selwood Foresters, an archery society and social club that attracted wealthy members.

4. Markeaton Hall, Derbyshire, NW of Derby: home of the Mundy family.

5. Carl von Linné (1707-1778), natural historian and botanist, and Antoine de Jussieu (1686-1758), French botanist and physician.

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