Laycock Abbey
26th February 1830
My Dear Henry
Your little billet from Chervil came just as we were returning from doing what you recommended, it met me at the Gate as we turned in from Hartham Park, where we saw an Occidental Plane 45 feet high and 5 feet round at the base, moved more than a mile. reste á voir <1> if it lives, because Mr Maclure (who was Sir Henry Stewart’s <2> man sent from Scotland) opined that it was too large to move well. It had likewise every disadvantage, as the coadjutors (being labourers) were awkward & the ground Sideling, & the place to which he has removed it much exposed to the wind – I shall be curious to visit this tree next year. We saw some very handsome horse Chestnuts he has moved, not quite so large as the Plane.
William <3> lamented much over your departure he said he should have tried more to persuade you to stay, only that he thought you were giving up about the Model, building &c &c which he thought must & ought to be attended to. He has been over this Town with Mr F <4> & says that partial as he was to it & much as he admired the genre he had no idea it had capabilities for comforts to the extent he sees. Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur. <5> It has seemed to me that partial translations from the German Parts little known to the English Public would be suited to your taste, or in the manner of Lord Morpeth’s <6> address to the Adriatic. I mean verses suggested by the locale of many places you have been on the Continent. But perhaps you will say with Lord Byron <7> that you cannot write on the blue seas & skys of Greece while you are in smoky England. Carol[ine is]<8> hard at work for you, I don’t know if she will get it ready for to day’s post as she is going out riding. Mr M. arrived yesterday to Dinner Kerry <9> is here, he has just had a fall from his horse in the mud, but is not the worse for it. One of Mr Awdry’s <10> tenants has just cut his throat being ruined by Mr Grey. We are going to shew William the pictures at Corsham <11> He stays till Monday.
Adieu
Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
31. Sackville Street
London
Notes:
1. Remains to be seen.
2. See Doc. No: 02124.
3. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.
4. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
5. A true friend appears in the adversity; discerned during an uncertain matter.
6. George William Frederick Howard, 7th Earl of Carlisle (1802–1864), MP.
7. George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron of Rochdale (1788–1824), poet.
8. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister. Text torn away under seal.
9. William Thomas Fitzmaurice, Earl of Kerry (1811–1836), MP.
10. Frederick Awdry (1817–1884), solicitor, Chippenham. [See Doc. No: 01963].
11. Corsham Court, Wiltshire, 3 mi NW of Lacock: seat of Ld Methuen.