Monday –

My dear Henry

I have just been out in the Garden gathering a few specimens of Flowers which I think have come into bloom since you went away – The sun was hot & compelled me to draw my search to a hasty conclusion otherwise I should probably have found some more for you – indeed every day now seems to bring out something fresh & the rapidity with which they come on quite surprises me – The Chriseis – collomias, Sedums of various sorts, especially that kind which forms of the tablecloth, are getting into great perfection – I have not attempted to send you a good nosegay because as Reid ^<1> tells me he is not in the habit of sending Flowers to London, I thought it might not be acceptable – The five wee specimens enclosed are from the Greenhouse – there are others now in bloom there whose names I will send you in the next letter – The Ornithogalums are shooting up beautifully – In the paper you will find a little bit of Asclepias tied to an Alpine Strawberry – I am not sure whether you saw that before you went but I believe it is the same plant whose flower you wished so much to see last year – & which I rather think met with an accident which occasioned the loss of the blossom – I had one of them in my Garden – but it seems to be gone – How much it resembles in appearance the Olea fragrans – though quite devoid of smell – I see you have many plants of the Yellow Digitalis – The little vicia from the Greenhouse is marked New Vicia – There is a plant in your Botanic garden growing close to the Yellow-horned Poppy – whose name I believe I asked you one day & you said you did not know it – it has very large leaves – I hope you were not anxious about it – for sad to relate it is become the prey of a set of voracious Caterpillars – I was surprised last night to see it quite covered with these creatures. No other plant in its vicinity seems to have been touched. – If you like me to continue sending you an account of the garden pray say so – & also say whether you like my sending you little fragments of the vegetable world – In the Basket today I have sent a little bouquet of roses for Horatia ^<2> –

Is it not almost a pity that your Newspapers should continue to be sent here during your absence? – I am certainly unworthy of having one for my sole & private entertainment – especially as I have scarcely time to do justice to its contents – You could perhaps send me an old one occasionally when there is anything of great interest for me to read – I am very glad that L^d Lansdowne’s ^<3> accident is not considered likely to be of consequence – for how very serious it might have been! – The Globe’s ^<4> account of it appeared bad enough – I also read that Lady Lansdowne ^<5> was to become a Member of her Majesty’s household – is that true – & what duties does it entail upon her? –

How good you have been in writing to me so often dear Henry! – I hope you have not found it a great trouble – I had a letter yesterday from L. A. W[?] written partly by Harriot ^<6> & partly by Marian ^<7> – The account of the latter is most excellent – M^r Travers has pronounced his decided opinion that there is now nothing at all the matter with her back – & that she only requires general strengthening to become perfectly well – How happy this has made me you will easily imagine – He said you were looking very well. We are going on quite prosperously without any prospect of wanting M^r Kerwin’s assistance –

Am I to give the Rabbits to the person I named to you? –

Ever dear Henry yr affe^te
Constance

Love to Horatia please

Ela ^<8> is able to take a great deal of air without seeming fatigued by it – but then the exercise is not great, as she paces about the garden with extreme deliberation, something after the manner of a little old woman.

Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
Sackville Street

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Notes:

1. John Reid, head gardener at Lacock Abbey.

2. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.

3. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3^rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.

4. The Globe (London).

5. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), wife of Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3^rd Marquess of Lansdowne; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838; WHFT's aunt.

6. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.

7. Her sister, Marian Gilder, née Mundy (1806 – 14 October 1860); m. 6 August 1844 William Troward Gilder (d. 1871), Army Surgeon (ret).

8. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1^st daughter.