My dear Henry,
I am afraid I quite scared you, & troubled you too much by my MSS. I did not require them back again, as they were only rough copies, & I can only hope that you did not dislike my “Trees.” My cousin Evelyn Shirley, who has sent me a copy of his “Deer and Deer Parks,”<1> has also helped me about some trees in his part of the world, but I do not know who will be able to tell me about a wonderful Oak called the “Champion” in the grounds of Fulham Palace, either as to age or size – It has immense leaves, as long and as broad as a man’s hand, so must be of a particular species.<2> Another tree like it, grows at Abergele.<3> Some fine Ilexes grow also at Fulham Palace, supposed to be planted by Bishop Compton,<4> but an Oak of any respectability would be centuries older than that. I also want to know where Woolhampton is? in what county I mean; the “seat of S. J. Blithe, Esqre”?<5>
However do not bother yourself to write, for I feel I must have wearied you, & you have given me much information; but believe me
Yr Affte cousin
Louisa Chtte Frampton
Lulworth Villa
Babbicombe
Torquay – June 22d –
Notes:
1. Evelyn Philip Shirley, Some Account of English Deer Parks, with notes on the management of Deer (London: 1867).
2. Fulham Palace, London, former country home of the Bishops of London. It still has a five hundred year old holmoak in the grounds.
3. Abergele, Clwyd, Wales.
4. An Ilex is normally a holly, but possibly in this context, a holmoak. Henry Compton (1675–1713), Bishop of London.
5. Woolhampton, Berkshire. She was referring to Squire James Blyth (1841-1925), who became 1st Baron Blyth in 1895.