[Fox crest]

My dear Henry

I enclose you a list of seeds to be had from Greece I got some last year & they turned out very good – if you take any, enclose the list marked as directed to M^r A. Irvine ^<1> who will attend punctually to it – He publishes a penny botanical Paper once a month not bad.

I wonder your Tacsonia does not fruit – our T. mollissima is bearing a curious large white cucumber shaped fruit like an Egg plant, full of large seeds –

I send this via Lacock as I forget your Scotch direction. ^<2>

Poor Isabella ^<3> how sad her fate has been with her children – I am in hopes of hearing of her from Charlotte ^<4> who has not written to me since since [sic] she was leaving Cornwall to go to her at Torquay.

I have been very quiet here – only went down ^<5> for the first time today –

I hope you found all well in Scotland

Y^r aff^te
W^m

Melbury ^<6>
Wed^y 16 –

[envelope]
to be forwarded
Henry F. Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham

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Notes:

1. See Doc. No: 08854.

2. WHFT had bought 13 Great Stuart Street, Edinburgh, frequent home of the Talbots from 1863-1871 in May 1864.

3. Isabella Catherine Franklen, née Talbot (1804–1874).

4. Charlotte Louisa 'Charry' Traherne, née Talbot (1800–1880), WHFT’s cousin.

5. Went downstairs, after having been ill.

6. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.