TALBOT1167

Penrice ¹
Feb^y 20

My dear Henry

I conclude you will never see the poor letter I misdirected ² to you so I must do my best to make amends for the long time you have been without a letter. – I was delighted to hear such a good report of Aunt Susan, ³ I hope she will be able to enjoy herself at Melbury ⁴ & will not be the worse for going there. Fanny Strangways ⁵ wrote me word they have had snow which surprises me very much as we have not had cold weather lately. M^r Dillwyn ⁶ was here for a couple of days & we spent all our time on the sea shore hunting for curiosities his present study is comparative anatomy for which he murders numbers of poor harmless creatures without the least compunction, I remonstrated in vain I am afraid, tho’ I saved the life of one limpet on our rocks. – Emma ⁷ & I found a number of curious animals sponges &cc which we are in expectation of having named by M^r Dillwyn but I am afraid we shall never see them again now he has got them in his possession. – There is an old woman of 97 at Rhossilly who walked over to Reynoldstone ⁸ the other day upon business & returned on foot too, M^rs Edwards ⁹ told me she made nothing of it & refused a horse, saying she had rather walk such a short distance, she has all her faculties still, what a delightful old age! Charlotte ¹⁰ says she must live in a very airy place she is sure – M^rs E. asked her if she had lived all her life there “oh no” said she “only sixty years”! – I never could see the comet ¹¹ tho’ we had very bright nights about the time you sent us word where to look for it, I suppose it was too like a star to strike the eye of a common observer. – Charlotte has got some more coins from Penywern moor the only new one is Titus the reverse is an Elephant. – Isabella is¹² sorry to say she has had a headache every day for the last week, one day she was obliged to go to bed quite early but she seems better tonight & has been playing duetts ever since tea with Isabella. ¹³ – We have had a lovely day & I have been gathering primroses in the wood this afternoon, I have sent Jane ¹⁴ a bunch to regale her nose. I will enclose you a list of the seeds (of your box) that are come up. – all send their love –

I am your aff^ate coz
Mary¹⁵

we have a Cyclamen coum out of doors in blow.

No going to Water Lawn on such a day as this. – Y^rs CC ¹⁶

[address panel:]
W^m Henry Fox Talbot Esq
27 Duke Street
St James’s