Penrice <1>
Wedy
My dear Henry
If you are not quite immersed in Politics perhaps you can find time to answer a question or two in our line. I enclose a sprig of Cytissus [sic] which is raised from your seed we have only the one plant but it is very flourishing. I want to know its name as I do not think that Angenteum is right, it is about 5 feet high branches a good deal and altogether is remarkably pretty, the colour is much brighter when it is fresh & there is a black tip to the green calyx and buds as well as flowers.– We have a great number of the Cumæ Anemone in flower but cannot keep them from the Pheasants unless we put wires round them they eat leaves and all! My tulips Oculus Solis are coming on famously I shall have a grand shew in a short time now we have crocus juisillus still going on blowing & many other treasures. the garden is quite gay with Dogs tooth violets, heaths windflowers, white arakis Narcissus taryetta & a variety of other Spring flowers, the mildness of the winter has allowed several Geraniums & other Greenhouse plants to live out of doors without any shelter at all & we have Cyclamen persicum & coum (that blow out of doors every year) just coming out now. we have quantities of primroses& violets in the wood & the wood anemonies are coming in every direction – I suppose at Easter you will get a sight of the Spring flowers and breathe a little pure air – Jane is with us she is very poorly but Thinks herself better, than when she came to us on the whole, the children are all quite well & very happy making gardens & planting flowers one day which are taken up to be replanted the next very often! Mamma <2> enjoys their company very much and they enlive house very much. –
[illegible deletion] I suppose London is gay as there must be so many people in Town owing to Parliament folks being kept so strict to their duties.–
All send their kind love & hope we shall meet in Town after Easter and get acquainted with our New Cousin. <3>
I am your affate coz
Mary
Sir Chriser is pretty well & Emma <4> too & I have no news to send you–
Mamma intends drying a blossom of your Narcissus praecox to send you soon. She is pretty well on the whole, when she gets plenty of work in the garden She always feels better for it.–
W. H. Fox Talbot Esqr
31 Sackville St
London
Notes:
1. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
2. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776–1855), WHFT’s aunt.
3. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
4. Sir Christopher Cole (1770–1836), Captain, MP & naval officer; Emma Thomasina Llewelyn, née Talbot (1806–1881), photographer; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.