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Document number: 6983
Date: 05 Jun 1854
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: BRITTON John
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number: envelope 20821
Last updated: 9th March 2012

Dear Sir

But for illness, & inflamation [sic] in my eyes I should have finish’d my Auto-Biography ere this time; but must now defer it till the ensuing autumn; as I want to rest my eyes & head – & form obtain a little respite from the wear & tear of brain which I feel has been overwork’d – I have finished my retrospections of Chippenham – Bowood – Castle Combe <1> & some other places – also of certain publick persons with whom I became acquainted at the end of the last and beginning of the present century. Amongst these were the 1st Marquis of Lansdowne <2> – Bowles <3>, Moore <4>, Crabbe, Wm Scrope, Sadler of Chippenham, Jas Montayn – Paul Cobb Methuen <5>, &c.

I have to thank you for a few facts relating to Lacock Abbey, & regret that I have not seen much of that edifice since you came into possession. Should I visit the neighbourhood, this Summer, I hope you will allow me to renew my acquaintance with it – I have a ground plan of the buildings – also a very beautiful Drawing of the apartment, called the Kitchin [sic]. I have also a good view of the church –

I presume you know the Engraving of the Cloister, with description, in my Architectural Antiquities?

Perhaps we may calculate on the pleasure of seeing you at Salisby in Augt next, to meet the members of “the Wiltshire Archæologl & Natural History Society” – under the Presidency of Mr S. Herbert – with Mr Scrope – Mr Sotheron & many other Wiltshire Gentn

My Wiltshire collection of Books, MSS – Models – drawings – prints &c is deposited at Devizes, under the charge of a county Society –

I am Yrs truly
J Britton

PS. I inclose a proof of part of a sheet on Bowood to give you some Idea of the matter & manner of my Auto-Biogy

17 Burton St – Burton Crest
June 5/54

H. F– Talbot Esq

T.O

[envelope:]
H. F Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wiltshe

Greta Bank
Keswick
Cumberland


Notes:

1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N, Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne and Castle Combe, Wiltshire, 7 mi NW of Lacock.

2. William, 2nd Earl of Shelbourne (d. 1805), prime minister under George III.

3. Possibly Rev William Lisle Bowles (1762–1850), Wiltshire poet & antiquary.

4. Possibly Thomas Moore (1780–1852), Irish poet.

5. Paul Methuen, Baron Methuen (1779–1849), MP.

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