Lanelay <1>
My dear Henry
You see I am quite ready to comply with your request for I only received your letter last night, a chance opportunity of sending to the post occurs, or my readiness would not avail much
Mr Traherne & Charlotte intend going to Llanwrtyd<2> the 15 end of June if they can have the rooms they wish for, but as accommodations are scarce and very indifferent it would not do to go on the chance of what they can get as they will remain there four or five weeks most probably
Your proposed route to reach this wild spot amuses me very much, is it to have some parts of your journey by a rail road? Or simply to travel by the longest possible way? – The most curious & best worth place to see is Twin Shon Catty’s<3> cave a remarkable fissure in a romantic valley I under stand it has a large boulder on the top which makes it into a cave I suppose. it is about 12 miles up in the hills, but you will have plenty of instructions when the time comes. C. & Mr. T. will be charmed to have you there and only hope you will not expect too much.–
Many thanks for the Apple tree I am glad you told me what it was however for I should have been much puzzled to find out for myself! I see the stem very well now,– There is a cypress or some other tall slender tree by it which is much more distinct why is that?–
Mamma <4> is pretty well she is delighted to find the seeds saved at Lacock are coming up very nicely, the Crucianella & Carrys Lemonifolia in particular all the plants you gave us are alive & well.
You gave me some seeds of Peas from the Hort. Soc. once. there was one I should like to have again if you could get me some large “Sword pad Sugar peas”. They were to be sowed in June, too late for the peas to ripen for sowing again you know, so I could not save any.–
We all send our love
I am your affate Cos
Mary
What a dreadful thing the burning of York Minster is. <5>
cannot think why it was not stopped at first there must have been great lukewarmness I am sure in those who ought to have been most active.
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre.
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
I am afraid of my letter’s being too heavy so I have cut off a bit you see.–
Notes:
1. Llanely, or Lanely, Glamorganshire: home of Lady Mary Cole and Mary Thereza Talbot.
2. Actually, Twm Shon Catti, the legendary "Welsh Robin Hood," born 1530; his hideout was on Dinas Hill about 12 north of Llandovery.
3. Rev John Montgomerie Traherne (1788–1860), JP & author, and Charlotte Louisa 'Charry' Traherne, née Talbot (1800–1880), WHFT’s cousin. Lanwrtyd is in mid Wales and commonly called Llanwrtyd Wells.
4. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776–1855), WHFT’s aunt.
5. Fire broke out in York Minster the evening of 21 May 1840. It was traced to an accident with a watchmaker's candle and quickly took over the tower.