TALBOT1958

Penrice ¹
Monday

My dear Henry

On looking at my pocketbook I find I cannot possibly be at Lacock the 18^th so I write to give you notice in order that I may not be in the way of your going to town which I hear you contemplate – tho if your garden is advancing at all in proportion to what I see here it must contain enough to detain you. Pray have your orchideæ drawn – they are so rare in England that the opportunity should not be lost.

Did the Colchicum montanum I sent you flower this winter? I was in hopes you might have bestowed some of it here but I do not find it. I have had it in contemplation to make a Synopsis (in one sheet each) of Tulips & Cyclamens if I could find anybody to draw & colour the accompanying figures – Are C. & Ho. ² equal to such a task? I find the Eu– portlandica is quite different in habit from Pithyusa which grows about Genoa & with which the Italian botanists confound it. & that again with Myrsinites. I hope you cultivate all these worthy spurges.

I am going to visit Margam & Penlline ³ in my way & stop at Clifton ⁴ to see M^r Harfords & M^r Miles’s pictures & Miller’s garden & the churches at Bristol & Salter’s garden at Bath. Kit ⁵ goes to Melbury ⁶ Wednesday – Charlotte ⁷ has not been very well these two days & she is doubting whether to be married at Bath London Melbury or anywhere I think Bath very well for a watering place match or London for an Almacks ⁸ one but I should think Penrice best for a Glamorganshire one.

Your Affte
W F S

Charlotte seems decided to go abroad after her marriage I think she will enjoy it exceedingly – Let us sketch out a tour for her

I leave this Thursday –

Swansea Feb^y fifteen 1830. Chris^er Cole. ⁹
Henry Talbot Esq^r
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham