[monogram:] MCG

Dabton
Thornhill
March 17^th 1869

My dear Papa,

If you begin your letters with such dreadfully sarcastic remarks I shan’t know how how [sic] to answer you! but of course I know that I should have written sooner – I found the parcel of seeds lying here on my return from Edinburgh the other day – They had not been forwarded as they were supposed not to contain a letter, nor had I heard of their arrival till I came home – however they are quite safe, & I am very glad to have them – I gave them to the gardener & some of them are sown already. I should like very much to have the vegetable seeds if you do not require them – I heard from Rosamond a short time ago & she gave a very flourishing account of them all. The weather had also much improved & was bright & pleasant. I hope you will not wait until it gets too hot before starting to join them, for I suppose summer comes rather suddenly in those parts – I am very glad indeed to hear that you are going to Cotehele, it is such a dear old place, and must be pleasant at all times of the year, although I think heat suits it particularly – I must soon write to Aunt Caroline or Ernestine, as I have not done so for some time. I had a letter this morning from Thereza Maskelyne, who sometimes writes to me now since we met in London, and she says her father & mother are gone to the Pyrenees for the spring – We only spent one week in Edinburgh, with the Walkers of Dalry – it quite set me up again, & I enjoyed it very much – Jack was with us & visited Holyrood, where he saw all the proper curiosities & returned much excited –

With much love, from all, I am y^r most affec^te daughter
Tilly

You saw in the paper that Sir S. Waterlow cannot sit – is it not a good thing –

[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esq^r.
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wiltshire-