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Millburn Tower<1>
Jeudi 4 Juin
Mon Cher Monsieur Talbot;
Je vous envoie ce petit mot pour Mr Stilwell qui vous remboursera les fifty pounds que vous avez eu la bonté de me prêter avant votre départ. Je suis bien contente que vous arriviez a Milburn Tower dans ce favorable moment, nous y sommes a peu près arrangées et je souhaite bien que vous trouviez l’endroit agréable et confortable, Ne soyez pas trop fier d’avoir vu la Comete à Paris, sur la place Vendòme avant hier, car Rosamond l’a découverte Dimanche 30 Juin à 18 heures, (en même temps que les astronomes notez cela?…) de la fenétre de sa chambre chez Tilly où elle etait allée passer quelques jours, en l’absence de Mr Clark à Speddoch; nous n’avions pas júge prudent que Matilde revient ici, comme elle le désirait; cependent elle va très bien, considérant je l’ai vue avant hier, lorsque je suis allée chercher Monie, Tâchez d’éviter le 10 Juillet sur la route, the Queen’s birthday, car tout le peuple sera dehors, à ce qu’il parait; et les excursionists sont de véritables sauvages cette année! Monie me prie de vous remercier de votre bonne lettre; si vous voyez Caroline, dites-lui que j’attends tonjours sa réponse au sujet de mon portrait.
Le temps ici a été très agréable, point trop chaud; – les nuits très-fraîches – de la pluie quelque fois mais rien de trop pour les besoins de la terre qui était altérée nous sommes presque toute la journée déhors and enjoy it very much.
Croyez-moi toujours, votre bien affectionnée
Amélina Petit,
Translation:
Millburn Tower
Thursday June 4th
My Dear Mr Talbot
I am sending you this little note for Mr Stilwell who will refund you the fifty pounds which you were so kind as to loan me before your departure. I am most content that you arrive at Millburn Tower at this favourable time, we are more or less settled here and I hope that you will find the place agreeable and comfortable. Do not be too proud of having seen the Comet in Paris, on place Vendôme the day before yesterday, for Rosamond discovered it Sunday June 30th at 18 hours, (at the same time as the astronomers, take note…) from the window of her bedroom at Tilly’s house where she had gone to spend a few days, in the absence of Mr Clark at Speddoch; we did not judge it prudent that Matilde should return here, as she desired; nevertheless she is very well, considering. I saw her the day before yesterday, when I went to fetch Monie. Try to avoid July 10th on the roads, the Queen’s birthday, for the entire population will be outside, it would seem; and the excursionists are veritable savages this year! Monie asks me to thank you for your kind letter. If you see Caroline, tell her that I still await her response on the matter of my portrait.
The weather here has been most agreeable, not too hot at all – the nights most fresh – rain from time to time but not too much for the needs of the earth which was parched. We are outside almost all day long and enjoy it very much.
Believe me ever, your most affectionate
Amélina Petit
Notes:
1. Millburn Tower, Gogar, just west of Edinburgh; the Talbot family made it their northern home from June 1861 to November 1863. It is particularly important because WHFT conducted many of his photoglyphic engraving experiments there. The house had a rich history. Built for Sir Robert Liston (1742-1836), an 1805 design by Benjamin Latrobe for a round building was contemplated but in 1806 a small house was built to the design of William Atkinson (1773-1839), best known for Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford. The distinctive Gothic exterior was raised in 1815 and an additional extension built in 1821. Liston had been ambassador to the United States and maintained a warm Anglo-American relationship in the years 1796-1800. His wife, the botanist Henrietta Liston, née Marchant (1751-1828) designed a lavish American garden, sadly largely gone by the time the Talbots rented the house .