Edinbro’.
March 9th
My dear Papa,
You know you have not spoilt us of late with letters, and that is why, I think, we all grew rather lazy also; but I was very glad indeed to get your’s [sic] this morning – Your description of the weather corresponds so exactly with ours that I do’nt [sic] think there is anything more to say about it, except that the mornings are generally brillant [sic], turning to stormy at 12 o’clock – and the barometer keeps running wildly from Set fair to Rain, without any apparent good reason s. Today is an improvement – calm, mild, & very sunny. We also have many crocuses open in the little gardens, besides snowdrops and other things more in the country, for the town smoke kills them. We are going to call on Lady Gibson Craig, <1> five miles off, in the direction of Collinton [sic], so I sha’nt [sic] have time to close my letter, but may perhaps add something when we return.
Do please bring the Horticultural seeds with you, that we may make a fair de c vision with Tilly; <2> for she is very anxious to have some, as they succeeded so admirably at Speddoch <3> last year.
I am so glad you are giving away good potatoes to the poor cottagers for planting, as Wilkins <4>said they had lost all theirs – it is very kind of you to have thought of it. And what a triumph for Scotland indeed, to be able to furnish the only sound potatoes in the Kingdom!!
Sunday 10th
We returned too late yesterday for me to finish – and had a very pleasant drive. Riccarton <5> Sir William Gibson Craig’s place, is five miles off, on the Dalry road, and is situated in a fine park very well planted with trees, and though not hilly itself is sufficiently near the Pentlands to be very pretty indeed. Not finding any one at home we cut across country in search of Milburn tower, <6> which was advertised to be let, and which we wanted to see.
We did not expect anything very particular, but were agreably disappointed, as it proved to be a remarkably nice house in many ways, very pretty and uncommon outside, and convenient inside. But what would please you, Papa, beyond anything is the existence of a large empty room, separated from, though close to the house, with three south windows looking out on the garden, & a good fire-place. Just the very place for your engravings! Mr Grieve, one of the trustees, accompanied us all about, and told us the history of the place. It belonged to the late Sir Robert Liston <7>, sometime ambassador at Constantinople; and several pieces of furniture and other curious relicts [sic] remain, brought by him from the east; – including a crimson chair of state, used by him on occasions of ceremony, and now stowed away in the large empty room. A locked-up room adjoining is full of valuable papers & correspondence; letters from celebrated men of those days, Fox, Pitt, &c and the great french [sic] statesmen of the time of the first revolution, to Sir R. Liston, all arranged in order. Most interesting to look over.
[No valediction or signature]
Notes:
1. Lady Elizabeth Sarah Gibson-Craig, née Vivian (d. 1895), married Sir William Gibson-Craig, 2nd Baronet of Riccarton, Midlothian in 1840.
2. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
3. Speddoch, Dumfriesshire, 10 mi NW of Dumfries: home of WHFT’s daughter Matilda
4. George Wilkins (b. 1814), gardener at Lacock.
5. Site now of Herriot Watt University.
6. Millburn Tower, Gogar, just west of Edinburgh; the Talbot family made it their northern home from June 1861 to November 1863. It is particularly important because WHFT conducted many of his photoglyphic engraving experiments there. The house had a rich history. Built for Sir Robert Liston (1742-1836), an 1805 design by Benjamin Latrobe for a round building was contemplated but in 1806 a small house was built to the design of William Atkinson (1773-1839), best known for Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford. The distinctive Gothic exterior was raised in 1815 and an additional extension built in 1821. Liston had been ambassador to the United States and maintained a warm Anglo-American relationship in the years 1796-1800. His wife, the botanist Henrietta Liston, née Marchant (1751-1828) designed a lavish American garden, sadly largely gone by the time the Talbots rented the house .
7. Sir Robert Liston (1742–1836).