Temple
Dec^r 23

My dear Sir

I feel much obliged by your present of the "English Etymologies," which reached me about 10 days ago. A very serious attack of Influenza w^h still hangs upon me, has hitherto prevented me from doing more than glancing over it. On some points, as you will readily conceive, I feel am inclined to join issue with you, but there is also much w^h is to me both new and interesting. Among ^#_er [number of] instances I w^d notice the etymologies of Ermine Arsenal, Mimosa, Jos, Mortice, Splice &c w^h appear to me to be very satisfactory. At p. 332 you suggest that the real Eglantine was the honeysuckle. Milton uses it in this sense

Through the sweet-briar & the vine
And the twisted eglantine

and your notion, if correct w^d be a sufficient answer to the criticisms, w^h have been so often directed ag^t this passage.

When we last had the pleasure of seeing you, you were kind enough to promise that certain Photographic copies of Lassens Inscriptions sh^d be sent to the Phil. Soc^y. It has occurred to the Council that possibly they might obtain a sufficient number for general distribution to the Members – the Society of course paying for the expence of striking off the copies. These inscriptions reduced in size, so as to be adapted for folding, and prefaced with such a description as you could as well give, of their past history, and the present state of our knowledge concerning them w^d be a most valuable addition to our Proceedings & w^d no doubt be most acceptable to our members. Is the Talbotype capable of being applied in this manner? – & if so, what w^d be the expence of taking 500 copies? I sh^d feel obliged by an answer to these questions

& remain dear Sir Yours very truly
Edwin Guest

H. Fox Talbot Esq^r