N U C <1>
1 Saville Row
London
Wednesday April 8th
My dear Father
I changed my mind about going to Brighton and have come to Town instead. I received one letter from you at the Salisbury Post Office. I enquired again at this morning for one but there was none. I qualified yesterday and had to pay a fee of 8 guineas.
I went to see the Blackmore Museum <2> both yesterday and today. It is very good. I went in to Court today and stayed till the 1st prisoner was sentenced whose sentence of 2 months for stealing about 9 pence at Malmesbury I thought rather heavy. The chairman who was elected yesterday is Lord Folkestone. <3> Lord Bath being chairman at Warminster and Mr Merewether <4> at both Devizes and Marlborough I saw a good many people at Salisbury that I knew and today I came up with Medlicott <5> a barrister and friend of mine, and Mr Eyre <6> of Warrens the kings queens printer whose son I know. I saw the cathedral. The chapterhouse was not I think finished when I saw it last and it is not to my mind yes very satisfactory. You should make a point of going and seeing the Blackmore Museum some of these days I have taken the ground floor at 32 St James place for a week; the one [illegible] Those I had on the 2nd floor being engaged. The rent of these rooms is ½ a guinea more which I do not much like but the sitting room is a very much better one The south western line by which I travelled today passes by Esher place which Mr Spicer sold. I saw Mr Lowndes <7> of Castle Combe <8> at Salisbury where he qualified. I asked him about his accident being surprised to see him there. He has some broken bones, and was starting for London at 1 yesterday to consult his doctors, but he is better than one could have expected. You know he met with a gig accident. I have written in a hurry to catch the post.
Your affect son
Charles
[envelope:]
H. Fox Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
[rear flap embossed:] New University Club / 1. Saville Rd. W.
Notes:
1. The New University Club, established in 1864, was for graduates of Oxford and Cambridge. It later moved to St James Street, London SW and merged with the United University Club in 1938.
2. Blackmore Museum, Salisbury, founded in 1863 by William Blackmore (d. 1878), a solicitor, ethnologist and anthropologist. His keen interest in Native American cultures is reflected in this collection.
3. Jacob Radnor, Lord Folkestone (18151889).
4. Walton Merewether. [See Doc. No: 09315].
5. Hubert James Medlicott attended Harrow 18541861.
6. George Edward Eyre (18041887), Queens printer 18371882.
7. Edward Chaddock Lowndes.
8. Castle Combe, Wiltshire, 7 mi NW of Lacock, formerly the home of George Julius Duncombe Poulett Scrope (17971876), MP & scientist until it was sold in 1867.