21 Sumner Pl
Collingwood Hawkhurst <1>
July 10th
1874
Dear Sir
In returning the accompanying letters <2> I have to offer, along with renewed thanks, my apologies for having kept them so long. I fear you will have been anxious about their safety, and will be disinclined to send others, should you at any time chance to find any. I cannot help fancying the latter possible, judging from the bulk of your own letters to my father – and so I take occasion to request you to note that my present address will soon be obsolete – but the old “Collingwood” address will I hope not pass away yet awhile. <3>
I beg to remain Yours truly
J. Herschel
[envelope:]
H. Fox Talbot - Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. London, Kent.
2. The letters sent to WHFT by his father, Sir John Frederick William Herschel (1792–1871), astronomer & scientist.
3. The Herschel family had lived in this house since the early 1840’s.