Markeaton <1>
Decr 12
Dear Mr Talbot
Thank you very much for sending me such beautiful shadows, <2> the little drawing I think quite lovely, that & the verses particularly excite my admiration, I had no idea the art could be carried to such perfection – I had grieved over the gradual disappearance of those you gave me in the summer & am delighted to have these to supply their place in my book –
Constance <3> in her last letter says, she perceives she is in danger of acquiring the frivilous [sic] feminine failing of scribbling, & has therefore resolved to write to us less frequently in future; now we all exclaim against the cruelty of such a determination, & trust you will exert your powerful influence in our behalf to convince her of the utter impossibility that she should ever fall into such an error –
When are we likely to see you here? I am aware this is not the moment to ask such a question but you must forgive our impatience –
You will be quite tired by so long an epistle but
believe me ever yours affetly
Laura Mundy
Henry Fox Talbot Esqr MP.
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts –
Notes:
1. Markeaton Hall, Derbyshire, NW of Derby: home of the Mundy family.
2. This is probably the earliest contemporary reference to WHFT’s photographs. [See Larry J. Schaaf, Out of the Shadows (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1992), p. 40].
3. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.