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Document number: 06767
Date: 03 May 1853
Dating: 1853?
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: STRANGWAYS William Thomas Horner Fox
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Last updated: 21st December 2011

Burlington St <1>
3 May

My dear Henry

I expected to have seen you again ere this, on your way to the Pic du midi where you might chance to see a little more Sun than we have today.

G. Gadola has just been here to recommend himself he wants to find a family going abroad. He was a very good servant for the road when he was with me & understood the travelling part of the business better than the household. – he seems to want a trip very much.

I called on Caroline <2> the other day but did not see her – I hear she has not been well. I met Mr Gaisford <3> at the Travellers <4> he said the Nicholls <5> were to leave Rome the 15th he was going to Wiltshire

I have got Babington’s Manual <6> very handy but I object to his names & the paucity of habitats he gives. Pamplin’s <7> is a good shop to go to –

I mean to go to Lord Rosse’s <8>on Saturday perhaps you will be there. I went to Gardner’s <9> but could not settle anything till I had seen you again – he said the best test for salt in the air would be some mixture in a cup which would alter after a little time but I am not Chemist enough for that –

Your Aff
W Fox Strangways

Notes:

1. 31 Burlington Street, London home of William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways

2. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister

3. Capt Thomas Gaisford (1816–1898), JP, WHFT’s brother-in-law

4. The Travellers Club was a gentlemans' club established in 1819 in London, catering to those who had visited foreign countries, diplomats posted to London and their guests. See Doc. No: 00995.

5. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874) and family.

6. Charles Cardale Babington (1808–95), Manual of British botany . . ., London, John van Voorst, 1843.

7. See Doc. No: 08854. Pamplin also published botanical catalogues etc. See notes to Doc. No: 07889.

8. William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse (1800–1867), astronomer & MP

9. A chemists’: see Doc. No: 08456.