Lacock
Wedny Dec. 20
My Dear Charles
Do you remember that 2 or 3 weeks ago we were talking of Lord John Hervey Mr Strutt <1> and Mr Coore, with 2 of whom you are acquainted and I said very likely they will be captured by the brigands and made to pay a heavy ransom? It has happened just as I predicted, and they had to pay a thousand pounds each, to ransom their lives. This happened somewhere in sight of Parnassus - A Highland seer enjoying the privilege of second sight, could not have predicted more truly than I did.
I hope you had a pleasant ball at Margam. <2> The weather here today was warm and sunny. I cut out from the Times <3> the report of Tangye v. Stott <4> but I do not send it because I think you must have read it on the journey
Your affte
Father
Direct to me at Edinburgh -Envelope:
C. H. TalbotMerthyr Mawr
Bridgend
Glamorganshire
Notes:
1. Henry Strutt (1840-1914), Liberal MP; sat for East Derbyshire from December 1868-1874, when defeated. Returned for Berwick, 1880, but succeeded as 2nd Baron Belper the same year. [See Doc. No: 09056].
2. Margam Park, Glamorgan: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
3. The Times (London).
4. A 'trial by special jury of certain issues directed in the cause for the purpose of determining the novelty and validity of an invention for "a new and improved pulley," patented by Thomas Aldridge Weston, in April, 1859, and also the question of infringement by the defendants,' The Times (Thursday, 14th December 1865), p. 11. The plaintiffs being Messrs. Tangye, Brothers, one of whom being Sir Richard Tangye (1833-1906), manufacturer, and the main defendant being James Stott, a retail ironmonger. [See Doc. No: 08924].