TALBOT1396

My dear Henry

I meant to have written to you before you went abroad, but you were half way to Ancona before I heard even of your intention – The Receipt you gave me for Varnishing Garden Sticks has as far as six months trial goes answered perfectly and so pray disseminate the knowledge of it throughout the country and even make Uncle W^{m 1} try, if you think the Florentines are civilised enough to mix the materials: – but as Will^m wrote me word the other day that they mowed their grass with a pair of Scissors I am afraid they must be very backward in their education –

M^r Nash ² the architect has a most delightful garden here & such, [sic] a delicious gardener, to whom I will introduce you if you ever honour us by coming to Cowes, & I think you w^d find somethings worth seeing in it – Do not forget that we shall be very happy to see you if you want a little trip this summer and you will find Kit ³ here till the 15^th of August when he sails for the Mediterranean. There is a Steam pacquet from Southampton & it is only an hour & a half passage to Cowes & that you w^d not much mind after going to Corfu – We should be glad too, to hear something of Uncle W^m & his way of life, so a visit w^d be very acceptable to us on both accounts. I enclose a bit of Galium altai ⁴ w^ch I have just received from Moreton ⁵ – I dare say it is pretty out of doors but it is rather withered now – however I shall dispatch a piece to Florence to take its chance.

Your aff^ate cousin
Harriot Frampton

Cowes
10^th

In a printed catalogue of the Plants found in this Island, I found Pulmonaria Virginica⁶ amongst those said to grow in a wood between this & Ryde – W^m will not be convinced of this. What do you think?

Henry Talbot Esq^re