115 Harley St
July 11 1868

Dear Talbot

I wrote you ^<1> about a month ago, & find now you are on the Continent ^<2> –

My object was to entreat you to accept the Presidency of the British Association ^<3> at Exeter in 1869 – [illegible deletion] which will have been officially offered ^<4> to you by the time you receive this –

You are the man specially designated for this Office & we shall be all greatly disappointed & at a loss if you refuse –

I know it is a trouble to you but for the sake of science don’t say no –

We will all give you any help you may wish so as to render your labours as light as possible

Ever yrs truly
W R Grove

H. Fox Talbot Esq^re
Hotel de LEurope ^<5>
Venice
Italie

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Notes:

1. Doc. No: 09380.

2. Talbot had left England at the end of April: see Doc. No: 09370.

3. British Association for the Advancement of Science.

4. See Doc. No: 09381.

5. Where Talbot had rejoined his wife; see Doc. No: 09382.