Monday
My Dear Henry
I enclose an advertisement of a Book you will of course buy, if you know of it, as you possess Sir Henry Slingsby <1> Portrait painted when he was in the Tower, just before he was beheaded and his daughter married Sir John Talbot. <2> - Fitzsimmons <3> told me he had lost his chance of being taken as a Gardener any where near London for this Season - Now I cannot understand that, as gardens must be cultivated all the year round, & I intend to ascertain the accuracy of this statement by asking at several Nursery gardens in the Environs. If it is true of course then we must think of a recompense.
Why have you left off writing to me?
Whenever you are really coming you must be sure to let me know, as Mr Montgomerie <4> is just arrived from Paris, & has got possession of your bed & must have time to look for another
Yrs
E F
Horatia <5> is going to appear aujourd hui <6> in one of her beautiful Paris dresses <7> at Lord Hertford's <8> in the Regents Park
London June twenty W Strangways <9>
Henry Fox Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Sir Henry Slingsby (1602-1658). The newly published book was by Rev. D. Parsons, The Original Diary of Sir Henry Slingsby, of Scriven, Bart. (London: J. B. Nicholls & Son, 1836) - it was based on his manuscript and family letters. In 1840, WHFT photographed a portrait of his 'Barbara Slingsby', either his widow, Barbara, née Belasyse (1609-1641) or his daughter Barbara (see note 2) - Schaaf 360.
2. Barbara Slingsby, and her husband Sir John Talbot.
3. Cornelius Fitzsimmons, Scottish gardener at Lacock Abbey.
4. Rev George Stephen Molyneux Montgomerie(1790-1850), close friend of Talbot family, artist, Rector of Garboldisham, near Thetford, Norfolk.
5. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810-1851), WHFT's half-sister.
6. Today.
7. See Doc. No: 03292.
8. Francis Charles Seymour-Ingram, 3rd Marquess of Hertford (1777-1842).
9. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795-1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.