Dear Henry
I enclose you Mr Pentlands <3> answer to my letter, about which you are the best judge – I should think the additional mirror as useful for your method as for Daguerre’s <4> –
This will reach Lacock Sunday, <5> I fear I cannot get your answer before Tuesday, but I will write a line to Mr P to approve of his sending it as he proposes. It will be better packed for travelling by coach than it could conveniently be for going in a Dispatch bag <6> & will be safer as to its condition I should think – I will also write to the F.O. <7> to have such a box when it arrives sent to Sackville Street <8> & notice given to me.
I have a letter from Kit <9> – he says he was having about a week in the bay of Biscay – how agreable for Lady Ch. <10> Mary <11> says they are going to Cornwall not by Dorsetsh Isabella <12> has raised some pretty things from America – a dark red Chelone from Mexico – a Cassia & handsome Celosia from Peru. She is potting oxalis by her bedside
The Park is streaming with torrents breaking out in new places. Edw. Digbys <13> new Orchidaceous house is very nice. I never saw such fine Fuchsias of all sorts as they have there.
Yrs aff
W F S
Notes:
1. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.
2. 1839. See Doc. No: 03770.
3. Possibly Joseph Barclay Pentland (1797–1873). He had been consul-general in Bolivia from 1836 to 1839 [see Doc. No: 00150 and Doc. No: 00418]. Later, he spent the winters in Rome.
4. Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre (1787–1851), French artist, showman & inventor.
5. Because it would have been posted on Saturday, though written on Friday 18 October.
6. The mirror, like the camera mentioned in Doc. No: 03962 and Doc. No: 03963, needed to be transported from the Continent [see Doc. No: 03770]. WTHFS was able to arrange safe transport through the Foreign Office.
7. That is, Foreign Office.
8. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
9. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
10. Lady Charlotte Talbot, née Butler (1809–1846), wife of CRM Talbot.
11. Mary Thereza Talbot (1795–1861), WHFT’s cousin.
12. Isabella Catherine Franklen, née Talbot (1804–1874).
13. Edward St Vincent Digby, 9th Baron Digby (1809–1889), was the husband of Lady Theresa Fox Strangways, daughter of the 3rd Earl of Ilchester.