[this is written on the same sheet as a note from Caroline - see Doc. No: 04928]
I sent a letter from the Royal Society to you
I forgot to tell you that one of the Crockets of the Perron <1> of the Hall fell down the other day, it had long been ricketty <2>. Upon clearing away the weeds & litter that grew there, it was discovered that the whole is out of repair, the cracks of the stones on the top having let the rain descend into the inside for I suppose two centuries at least, has made the arch & front wall lean outwards considerably out of the perpendicular <3>. The danger of this has been concealed by periwink[le &c] <4>
Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
31 Sackville Street
Notes:
1. A crocket was a stylised carving of a curled leaf, typical of Gothic decoration, used to finish an edge; the perron was the external flight of steps to the entrance.
2. The steps were finally rebuilt (by Banks) late July/early August 1837. [See Doc. No: 03542, Doc. No: 03544, and Doc. No: 03545].
3. See Doc. No: 03474.
4. Text obscured under seal.