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Document number: 08067
Date: 31 Mar 1860
Postmark: Dorchester 31 March 1860
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: STRANGWAYS William Thomas Horner Fox
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: Acc 21538 (envelope)
Last updated: 14th November 2012

Melbury <1>
31 March

My dear Henry

I have lately got some American seeds of which I send you a few for the chance of what they may turn out –

Did you ever know such an undusty March? King’s ransoms <2> would be in arrear in such a season as this.

We receive splendid Camellias from Abbotsbury <3> every week – & think of going there after Easter – If Jane <4> comes to us there would you run down & meet her? You have hardly been there since the glorious days of July.

I hope all are well with you & that you have good accounts of Matilda <5>

Do you know anything of Cooper, & Salmon, the Irish Astronomers & Mathematicians? <6>

Yr affe
Wm

[envelope:]
Henry F. Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham

Notes:

1. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.

2. Alluding to the folk-saying ‘A peck of dust [i.e. a period of dry weather] in March is worth a king’s ransom’.

3. Abbotsbury, Dorset: home of William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways.

4. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).

5. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.

6. Edward Joshua Cooper (1798–1863); Rev George Salmon (1819-1904).