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Document number: 4244
Date: 22 Apr 1841
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: FRAMPTON Mary
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA41-28
Last updated: 8th December 2010

My dear Sir

I avail myself of your very kind permission signified to me thro' Harriot Mundy <1> & send to Ly E Feildings <2> house in Sackville Street <3> for your inspection, a few specimens of the amusing labors which have produced near 900 pen Etchings of Dorsetshire plants. If I can obtain a sum for them which can be applied to the benefit of the Dorset County Hospital now erecting, I must not object to any mode of publishing them that may be deem'd most likely to be profitable, & therefore I am indifferent whether it be done by Subscription or otherwise probably Dorsetshire would afford a good many names -

You are I doubt not aware, that this county is very rich in plants & possesses many rare ones, the Aconitum, Parnassia palustris, Paris quadrifolia, Sisymbrium Iris, Scirpus sacii are denizens with many others -

I have sent up the specimens by my Nephew Mr Shirley<4> whose Servant will leave the small parcel in Sackville Street either Saturday Evening or soon afterwards. Mrs Dawson Damer gives me hopes of a chance of seeing Ly Eliz Feilding at Came.<5> I much wish the idea may be realized. I remain with many thanks for the trouble I am giving you.

Yrs very Sincerely
Mary Frampton

Dorchester
April 22d 1841


Notes:

1. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.

2. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773-1846), WHFT's mother.

3. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.

4. One of the sons of Evelyn Shirley and Phillis Byam Wollaston, the writer’s step-sister.

5. Came House, near Dorchester, the seat of Col. George Dawson Damer. His wife was Mary Georgiana Emma (Minnie) née Payne. She is mentioned in Harriot Georgiana Mundy, The Journal of Mary Frampton, from the Year 1779, until the Year 1846 (London: Sampston Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, 1885).