Penrice <1>
Feby 20
My dear Henry
I conclude you will never see the poor letter I misdirected <2> to you so I must do my best to make amends for the long time you have been without a letter. – I was delighted to hear such a good report of Aunt Susan, <3> I hope she will be able to enjoy herself at Melbury <4> & will not be the worse for going there. Fanny Strangways <5> wrote me word they have had snow which surprises me very much as we have not had cold weather lately. Mr Dillwyn <6> was here for a couple of days & we spent all our time on the sea shore hunting for curiosities his present study is comparative anatomy for which he murders numbers of poor harmless creatures without the least compunction, I remonstrated in vain I am afraid, tho’ I saved the life of one limpet on our rocks. – Emma <7> & I found a number of curious animals sponges &cc which we are in expectation of having named by Mr Dillwyn but I am afraid we shall never see them again now he has got them in his possession. – There is an old woman of 97 at Rhossilly who walked over to Reynoldstone <8> the other day upon business & returned on foot too, Mrs Edwards <9> told me she made nothing of it & refused a horse, saying she had rather walk such a short distance, she has all her faculties still, what a delightful old age! Charlotte <10> says she must live in a very airy place she is sure – Mrs E. asked her if she had lived all her life there “oh no” said she “only sixty years”! – I never could see the comet <11> tho’ we had very bright nights about the time you sent us word where to look for it, I suppose it was too like a star to strike the eye of a common observer. – Charlotte has got some more coins from Penywern moor the only new one is Titus the reverse is an Elephant. – Isabella is<12> sorry to say she has had a headache every day for the last week, one day she was obliged to go to bed quite early but she seems better tonight & has been playing duetts ever since tea with Isabella. <13> – We have had a lovely day & I have been gathering primroses in the wood this afternoon, I have sent Jane <14> a bunch to regale her nose. I will enclose you a list of the seeds (of your box) that are come up. – all send their love –
I am your affate coz
Mary<15>
No going to Water Lawn on such a day as this. – Yrs CC <16>
[address panel:]
Wm Henry Fox Talbot Esq
27 Duke Street
St James’s
Notes:
1. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
2. This was probably Doc. No: 01164.
3. Susannah Sarah Louisa O’Brien, née Strangways (1743–1827), WHFT’s great aunt.
4. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.
5. A daughter of the Rev the Hon Charles Strangways, brother of the 2nd Earl of Ilchester. [See Doc. No: 00686].
6. Lewis Weston Dillwyn (1778–1855), Welsh botanist & MP. For more on his dissections, see Doc. No: 01164.
7. Emma Thomasina Llewelyn, née Talbot (1806–1881), photographer; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
8. Possibly the wife of Dr Edwards. [See Doc. No: 01179].
9. On the Gower Peninsula, about four miles inland from Rhossili.
10. Charlotte Louisa 'Charry' Traherne, née Talbot (1800–1880), WHFT’s cousin.
11. The Great Comet of 1823, visible in December.
12. Isabella Catherine Franklen, née Talbot (1804–1874). Page torn out.
13. Possibly a mistake for Emma Thomasina Mansel Llewelyn.
14. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).
15. Page torn out.
16. Note added by Sir Christopher Cole (1770–1836), Captain, MP & naval officer.