Thursday Night
My Dear Henry
Emma <1> is going up to London tomorrow morning for a few hours & returns to dress me for dinner – how very convenient! Time & Space are annihilated. I wish you would send me No’s 3 & 4 of the “Pencil of Nature” <2> by her. No 1. came very safe the Evening you went away, & has been duly conveyed to Lord Haddo who takes a great interest in the Art, he himself drawing very well.<3>
I certainly think my sejour here has been of immense use in diffusing an acquaintance with the Subject. The D. of D. <4> is become one of your greatest puffers
Suppose you come down on Saturday & stay till Monday
Affly yrs
EF
To day was very sunny on purpose because Nicole went last night <5>
[Address panel:]
H Fox Talbot Esqr
Sackville St
Notes:
1. Emma Thomasina Llewelyn, née Talbot (1806–1881), photographer; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
2. WHFT, The Pencil of Nature (London: Longman, Brown, Green, & Longmans, June 1844–April 1846 [issued in six fascicles]).
3. It might be expected that this was the amateur artist George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen and Lord Haddo (1784–1860). However, it was his son, George John James Hamilton-Gordon, 5th Earl of Aberdeen (1816-1864) who was customarily styled Lord Haddo during the period of 1816-1860. Like WHFT, he attended Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge.
4. The 6th Duke of Devonshire, Sir William George Spencer Cavendish (1790–1858).
5. Nicolaas Henneman (1813–1898), Dutch, active in England; WHFT’s valet, then assistant; photographer. Lady Elisabeth frequently assigned him photographic tasks but the weather was not always cooperative.