Lanelay <1>
Thursday
My dear Henry
I promised to send you a further account of the progress of the Aloe at Margam <2> & having received a report from the Gardener at Margam I lose no time in letting you know.
“The Aloe is now 20 feet six inches high, from the lower branches of the flower to the top is a little more than 10 feet, the flowers have not opened as yet but in about a fortnight they will probably do so, it is ten weeks since the flower stem first appeared” – I hope you have been thinking about it & will make up your mind to start very soon, I hear people go in shoals from all parts to see this wonderful Aloe. –
We have been at Penrice <3> for a week and I really lived out of doors, beginning my day long before any one else & walking about in spite of the heat until dusk nearly every day. I carried my bread & cheese in a basket & generally some apples or pears so I did very well only occasionally drinking out of a leaf or shell when I came to some sparkling spring, I am sure you would have enjoyed going about in the same way tho’ longer excursions would suit you better but I wanted to see many old folks & sick people after having been away from Penrice a longer time than usual so I paid many visits & spent a great deal of time in talking!
One day I went & sat on the top of the Great Tor for a long time there was a fair wind and I enjoyed it very much as well as my walks on Cefn Bryn & in the wood but I had no companion not even a little dog! –
Chris & Lady Charlotte <4> are gone to Cowes & the dear Childn will soon follow, they were a great amusement to us when we were at Penrice – Mama <5> is not well, I hope however this cooler weather will suit her better
I am your affate coz
Mary
Notes:
1. Llanely, or Lanely, Glamorganshire: home of Lady Mary Cole and Mary Thereza Talbot.
2. Margam Park, Glamorgan: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
3. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
4. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin and Lady Charlotte Talbot, née Butler (1809–1846), wife of CRM Talbot.
5. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776–1855), WHFT’s aunt.