link to Talbot Project home page link to De Montfort University home page link to Glasgow University home page
Project Director: Professor Larry J Schaaf
 

Back to the letter search >

Result number 5 of 16:   < Back     Back to results list   Next >  

Document number: 1257
Date: 27 Feb 1825
Dating: 1825?
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: LEMON Charles
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA25(MW)-16
Last updated: 9th March 2012

Nice.
Feby 27th

My dear Henry

I am determined not to let a day pass without answering yr letter for fear another fit of indolence shd come over me, & I shd behave as ill as I did before – it was not however for want of gratitude to you for thinking of me I assure you & I feel exceedingly obliged to you for the books you sent me by Mr Hetherington wh: tho’ late arrived at last & amused us very much. With respect to the Steam Boat the answer is short, that there is none – it was tried for a little while (I believe last year) & failed – & I do not hear of any attempt to revive the Scheme. – I will do what you desire if possible as to the juice of the Euphorbia dendroides. – what can you want to do with that viscous, acid stuff? – We are in such dismal want of rain here that we are at least a month backwarder than usual – everything is parched up with the drying wind & they say here it has been an unnatural Season – However some flowers are beginning to come out that delight me. I have seen only the coronaria yet – as the Pavonina is not out I believe – The Ophrys insectifora (as Risso <1> calls it) is in profusion but no other [yet?] What has hitherto enchanted me more than any thing is (what he calls) the Narcissus albidus – it is quite lovely nectary & flower of so pure & dazzling a white – is it after all only the white variety of the N. tazzetta? The petals are particularly sharp pointed & they have the effect of a star. I certainly never saw it dry when in England & mean to take as many roots as I can. – The [illegible] grounds are full of leaves of different bulbous plants but nothing more yet. – The Ornithopus Scorpioides is another new plant to me & I like it fr the singularity of the leaves – the Astragalus monspeliensis I fd in the autumn – but you have no idea how few flowers there are in consequence of the weather. – I went 3 months ago to the Rochers [songes?] & saw the fan palms & fd the Anthyllis barbajovis – the Andropogon contortu, the Trincia tuberosa, &c. but I must go again as you hold out other hopes to me now. – We mean to go from hence to Genoa & then by Milan & Turin over Mt Cenis to Geneva tell me what I shall find in that route. I intend having a shallow box filled with earth to go over the front trunk upon springs – in which I flatter myself I shall be able just to keep alive any thing that particularly strikes me. – You may tell me therefore any small plant that you wish to have. – Is there a good Botanical garden at Genoa? – Is the Avens I find here on the rocks Micensis? Risso calls it Meridionalis & I think it is vernus? –

I was delighted to hear of William’s appointment <2> – & I hope he may be as pleased with it as we are – I think it possible he may take this in his way – it will be hard if we do not catch him in part of our tour if not here. –

I intend writing to your Mother <3> in a day or two – I have time only for one letter now. –

My dear Heny yr affte
C A Lemon

Can you explain what [illegible] when we were at Nevers we [saw] sold in the market some curious looking vegetables, which at first we took to be roots, but which [are?] the seeds of a Plant that grows in ponds in all that country & which the country people eat after it is boiled<4> – it is a singular shape abt the size of a chesnut & with points something like this [illustration] & brown – a tough skin & a sort of nut inside – I never cd get any name for it that I cd at least make out. – Risso is exceedingly puzzled & knows nothing about it & I can get nobody else to explain it. Can you? –

a Monsieur
Monsieur H. F. Talbot
Hotel de la Terrasse
Rue de Rivoli
Paris


Notes:

1. Antonio or Antoine Risso (1777–1845), natural scientist.

2. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat. He was appointed Secretary of Legation at Florence. [See Doc. No: 01250].

3. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, nιe Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.

4. Water chestnuts or water caltrop were sold in markets throughout Europe until 1880.

Result number 5 of 16:   < Back     Back to results list   Next >