Penrice <1>
Decr 28 1837
My dear Henry
I am unable to give you any information of a bailiff such as you require, & should be inclined to think you will find it very difficult to get a man as land-steward for £60 a year: unless he has other persons land to look after as well as yours.
The house I named to you between Margam & Neath is at Baglan, close to the road, with a very pretty view over the sea. There are always small places to be let in this county, especially near Swansea and I should think your best way would be to come and look at them. We shall be at Margam I expect about the 10th Jany if you are disposed to make that your head-quarters while you look about.
We have great [sic] many flowers in blow for the time of year the only name I happen to know is Mesembryanthemum Securiforme. I am disgusted with the mildness of the season which is bad for everybody and everything except botanists who delight in plants that flower out of season. We shall no doubt read dozen’s [sic] of advertisements that Mr A. of B. has a pear tree in full bloom &c &c but in the mean time there is no frost to kill the flies, & make wild ducks tame.
Yours ever truly
C R M Talbot
[envelope:]
W H F. Talbot Esqr
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.