My dear Sir,

I have indeed to offer you my best thanks for the beautiful little Calotype you have been so very kind as to enclose me, no less than for your expressed intention of indulging me in my request for further information ^<1> on the subject of your most exquisite process of Photography – I only beg that you will not allow the communication of any such information to inte occupy your valuable time, in any way, until you shall be perfectly at leisure to do so –

It would be impossible for me to express my admiration of the artistic perfectness of your beautiful Calotypes, especially as displayed in the specimen you have so kindly sent me, which, for delicacy of detail I think, su[r]passes even any I have yet seen –

Sincerely thanking you for so kindly entertaining my request,
I remain, my dear Sir, Your’s most respectfully
Nevil Story Maskelyne

Basset-Down-House, ^<2> (Swindon)
Dec^r 18 – 1845 –

[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
31 Sackville St
London

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Notes:

1. See Doc. No: 05479.

2. Basset Down House, about three miles southwest of Swindon, Wilts, the home of Story-Maskelyne’s father.