Dabton
Thornhill
March 13th 1875
My dear Papa,
I have never written to thank you for your letter which I received on my birthday and for the book, Records of the Past, <1> which arrived next day – I like having them very much, as they are very interesting, although one would scarcely sit down to read them through! I have purchased the 2d vol, to complete the series, although that one contains nothing of yours – Mama <2> sent me your very interesting letter about Mr Smith’s <3> recent discoveries at Nineveh – How very curious it is – It will make quite a sensation when published –
Here we are still struggling with the remains of winter which will not go away. two or three little spring flowers are peeping out & looking pinched & chilly – The wind remains constantly in the north-east – It changed two days this Sunday & Monday and that change was really delightful but on Tuesday it went back to the old quarter – Alick Kennedy and his bride are here – They came on Wednesday, intending to go to London today – but they are going to remain till Monday now – They were nearly frozen, coming over the hills from Knockgray – We took over the cuttings of appletreees to Speddoch, <4> thinking that they would have a better chance there, and kept nearly all the Anemonies [sic] here – The little blue ones you gave us long ago, are coming up nicely – They will not be in flower for a long time, I suppose – We have been planting some shrubs, rhododendrons, hollies & other things on the lawn here – it always looked very bare – and we think it will be a great improvement –
The children send their love
your most affecte daughter
Tilly
[envelope:]
H.F. Talbot Esqr.
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Records of the Past being English Translations of the Assyrian and Egyptian Monuments (London: Samuel Bagster & Sons).
2. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
3. George Smith (1840–1876), Assyriologist.
4. Speddoch, Dumfriesshire, 10 mi NW of Dumfries: home of WHFT’s daughter Matilda.
5. John Henry Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Jack’ (1861–1902), WHFT’s grandson, and William ‘Willie’ Gilchrist-Clark-Maxwell (1865–1935), WHFT’s grandson.