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Document number: 8104
Date: 24 May 1860
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: GILCHRIST-CLARK Matilda Caroline, née Talbot
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: Acc 21682 (envelope)
Last updated: 24th December 2012

[embossed address:]
Speddoch
Dumfries N.B.

May 24th 1860.

My dear Papa,

I was sorry to learn from your letter, received yesterday, that you had been obliged to give up Fairlie house, on account of the Glasgow steamers – I had hoped that this particular spot would be free from them, but I suppose all the coast is subject to the same annoyance, and I do not wonder at your taking fright at the prospect of being over-run daily by a shoal of Glasgow people. I suppose the only chance would be to come further south, and that is so difficult, as the houses grow scarcer, the further you go from the Clyde – I have not heard of anything since writing last. It is quite time, however, to be moving north, as everything is looking so pretty just now we are putting out all our greenhouse plants, geraniums and fuchsias – There are quantities of globe flower and orchises near the river, and I see the pinguiculas showing their leaves everywhere. Mama <1> will be glad to hear that I have just got a dairymaid, who seems likely to suit – I was becoming rather hopeless on the subject, as till now I had heard of no one, and she is wanted to begin operations on the 25th

Please give my love to all, and believe me your most affecte daughter
Matilda

What do you think of Garibaldi’s expedition – will he be succesful [sic], or get his head cut off? <2>

How proud Mr Massy will be to have won the Derby.

[envelope, flap imprinted "Speddoch Dumfries N.B.":]
H. F. Talbot Esqr
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wiltshire


Notes:

1. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (30 Jan 1811 - 9 Sep 1880), m. WHFT 20 Dec 1832.

2. Gen Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-1882), Italian politician. The Spedizione dei Mille (Expedition of the Thousand) was part of the Risorgimento. Garibaldi landed in Sicily with 1000 volunteers to conquer the Bourbon's Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. He kept his head - the risky invasion was a success, and was the last major conquest before the Kingdom of Italy was created in March 1861.

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