Whorlton
April 22nd
My dear Father
I am very much ob litliged for the specimens you sent me. Mr Headlam <1> knows the Assarabacca; he says it used to grow at Wycliff but I believe only in the garden. The Postmaster here has some of it growing in his garden. Woodall <2> is going to sow the Anomatheca cruenta; he says it may be planted out in the borders during the summer.
I should like my cricket shoes sent to Bd Castle <3> by Luggage Train for the establishment have changed their minds and are going to play cricket. My shoes have spikes in their soles and I dont think it would be worth while getting another pair here and I cant bowl well without them. We will try and get you some Star of Bethlehem. But the Toothwort Woodall thinks will be more difficult an as is also the gentiana Verna The Musk Mallow grows in considerable abundance in a lane a few miles from here near Winston and Lower down the Tees, in company with the common large mallow and Yellow Toadflax I was very much stricken [sic] by its appearance in that lane when in full flower. It grows in small patches at several places near here. Today is the finest day that we have had for some time. Yesterday we had some heavy hailstorms.
Your affet son
Charles T.
Notes:
[envelope:]
H Fox Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
2. A fellow pupil at Whorlton.
3. Barnard Castle, a town in the disrict of Teesdale, Durham.