[crest SPH]

Merstham
April 3^d

My dear Henry

I was so glad to see your hand writing again, & I was in hopes you were coming to us for a few days on your way to the Continent: you pass close to this house when you go by Merstham Station, you will find us quite alone till the 17^th if you will come –

I have written to M^rs H^y Strangways by the early post to enquire about Miss White, & to save time I have asked her to give Matilda all the information she can directly.

I tried to gain particulars from M^rs Strangways, & she tells me, she knows only the Vicar M^r White very well, and she thinks him very gentlemanlike, & well informed, & neither high, nor low in his Church views – I do hope, that M^rs H^y Strangways will be able to say she knows the Daughters, as it is desirable to be very particular before engaging a governess –

I hope your garden is in a satisfactory state, and trust your losses are not many from the Winter –

I heard of Caroline M^t Edgcumb [sic] from L^y Digby (who is staying at Nice with the Barings), first after her arrival from Cannes –

I hope you will find M^rs Talbot, & all your Party well – Believe me

Yours Very sincerely
Sophia P. Hylton

[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esq^r.
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham