Tuesday March 18th
My dear Henry
I must suppose that you are in London or almost in London by this time – still as you write not & Nicole <1> comes not, I know not what to think, except that you have not yet escaped from your tormentors. – I wish you would commission me to Sow some more seeds, if you have any at hand that I can find – Gale <2> has promised to bring your Camera-stand home tomorrow. – I shall write out a list of objects for you to buy as soon as I hear of your being in London – Such wea<ther> <3> as we have now I really never remember, except perhaps in London where one cannot judge of it or see the curious sight which I saw yesterday in Hick Lane – I was walking there by the side of the Children’s Donkey. – The Sun was shining upon us with such force as to be rather oppressive, on one side the bank was covered with primroses in full flower, on the other at the bottom of a deep ditch, were thick pieces of broken ice. –
Yr affte
Constance
H. F. Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
London
31. Sackville Street
Chippenham
Wiltshire
paid
Notes:
1. Nicolaas Henneman (1813–1898), Dutch, active in England; WHFT’s valet, then assistant; photographer.
2. John Gale, carpenter at Lacock.
3. Text torn away under seal.