TALBOT157

My dear Henry

I always heard that Luscombe ¹ was very pretty but I should take the Sidmouth ² coast looking South to be warmer than the Teignmouth ³ looking East. My idea of the gradual encrease of mildness westward is that it hardly begins to be sensible till you get to the I. of Wight & Southampton then encreases (according to aspect & situation) along the coast of Dorset & lastly embraces en masse the South of Devon & peninsular of Cornwall & extends even to S. Wales which is as the South side of a garden wall. What sort of climate is the North of Devon? Somerset is decidedly colder than Dorset, but less than Wilts – which I consider a sort of Highlands of the South of England. –

I am much interested about your discovery of Poeticus ⁴ near Moreton. ⁵ Did you see the Eclipse well I was disappointed. I can shew you an olive at Abb^y without a wall – Edwardsias standard now covered with flowers Aloes, Acacias, & Fan Palms – Camellias are hardier than Myrtles, but their flowering precarious. Have they at Luscombe Geraniums, Mesembs, Melias, Cacalia Kleinia, Carobs, Terebinthus, Jasmin. Azorean & odoratissimum, Prostanthera, Daphne Indica, Metrosideros & Melaleuca & Tristania, Oleanders & Pittosporums all out uncovered?

Lady I. ⁶ is going down to Ab ⁷ for nearly all June, could you not pay her a visit ⁸ in your way homewards – I would try to get a day to run down & meet you. Horatia ⁹ is looking thin but otherwise not unwell –

Y^r Aff
W F S