Llandaff.
Tuesday evening.
My dear Father.
I received a letter from Mr Nesbitt <1> this morning which I send you as I think you may perhaps like to read it. The “other man whose name Mr N cannot call to mind” is I believe Dallas. <2> I see that some body has bought the patent for enamelled photographs which is I believe the photograph protected by covered with a varnish of collodion of which you received a specimen. Photographic patents seem to be active just now. The Wothly type <3> people are advertising their prospects of success.
Our weather has become finer here so that I hope they will have a good day at Lacock for the ploughing match which is tomorrow. Mr Prichard <4> has a very large collec good number of architectural books which are useful & many that one is not very likely to meet every where. I do not know how soon the house he is going to build at Bonvilstone is to be set going I suppose not this year.
Your affect son
Charles.
[envelope:]
H Fox Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Alexander Nesbitt (1817–1886), archaeologist & ancient glass collector.
2. Duncan Dallas, of the Photogalvanographic company. [See Doc. No: 07250].
3. A method of making collodion positives on paper using salts of silver and uranium, the Wothlytype was patented by Jakob Wothly in 1864.
4. John Prichard, Welsh architect; Charles Henry Talbot apprenticed to.