My dear Henry
I have heard from Mr Chambers that he thinks my MS <1> “would suit,” but is “too long & rambling,” & asking me to abridge it to “10 pages.” What utter nonsense! It is not a tale or an essay which can be altered, & as for its being rambling I cannot help a part being in Ireland & Canada,<2> & a part with the Pss, which is all the “rambling” there is. He could, if he chose it, accept it “to be continued” in his weekly parts. Ten pages would bring it to Col. Campbell’s<3> death, & being Scotch, I suppose all that interests Chambers is that part, but others would prefer the latter part. Anyhow I have not going to spoil it for any body, & they must take it as it is, or not at all, so I have sent for it back again. Charlotte Traherne <4> has read the longer copy, & says she was very much amused & thought it well put together, & the transn well done – so with her opinion, & yours, & Hts <5> &c, I do not feel discouraged, but shall try again, though I have not decided in what quarter. It is an article suited for the “Cornhill” <6> which takes longish ones, & not in double columns, but the “Cornhill” will not take articles from unknown authors, not recommended. Fraser <7> I do not know much about, but might be likely. I shall consider. I wished to let you know of my non-success.
Yr affte
Louisa C. Frampton
Lulworth Villa
St Mary Church
Torquay –
Aug. 14th
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts
Notes:
1. See Louisa Charlotte Frampton,‘Princess Charlotte and Mrs Campbell’, The Gentleman’s Magazine, n.s. v. 27, September 1876, pp. 275-289. Alicia Campbell, née Kelly, ‘Tam’ (1768–1829), a close family friend of the Framptons, first joined Princess Charlotte’s household in 1805.
2. Mrs. Campbell was from Ireland and her husband was posted to Canada by the army.
3. Col. William Campbell (1751-1796).
4. Charlotte Louisa 'Charry' Traherne, née Talbot (1800–1880), WHFT’s cousin.
5. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.
6. The Cornhill Magazine, founded in London by George Smith in 1860.
7. See Doc. No: 04684.