TALBOT1961

Laycock Abbey
26^th February 1830

My Dear Henry

Your little billet from Chervil came just as we were returning from doing what you recommended, it met me at the Gate as we turned in from Hartham Park, where we saw an Occidental Plane 45 feet high and 5 feet round at the base, moved more than a mile. reste á voir ¹ if it lives, because M^r Maclure (who was Sir Henry Stewart’s ² man sent from Scotland) opined that it was too large to move well. It had likewise every disadvantage, as the coadjutors (being labourers) were awkward & the ground Sideling, & the place to which he has removed it much exposed to the wind – I shall be curious to visit this tree next year. We saw some very handsome horse Chestnuts he has moved, not quite so large as the Plane.

William ³ lamented much over your departure he said he should have tried more to persuade you to stay, only that he thought you were giving up about the Model, building &c &c which he thought must & ought to be attended to. He has been over this Town with M^r F ⁴ & says that partial as he was to it & much as he admired the genre he had no idea it had capabilities for comforts to the extent he sees. Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur. ⁵ It has seemed to me that partial translations from the German Parts little known to the English Public would be suited to your taste, or in the manner of Lord Morpeth’s ⁶ address to the Adriatic. I mean verses suggested by the locale of many places you have been on the Continent. But perhaps you will say with Lord Byron ⁷ that you cannot write on the blue seas & skys of Greece while you are in smoky England. Carol[ine is]⁸ hard at work for you, I don’t know if she will get it ready for to day’s post as she is going out riding. M^r M. arrived yesterday to Dinner Kerry ⁹ is here, he has just had a fall from his horse in the mud, but is not the worse for it. One of M^r Awdry’s ¹⁰ tenants has just cut his throat being ruined by M^r Grey. We are going to shew William the pictures at Corsham ¹¹ He stays till Monday.

Adieu

Henry Fox Talbot Esq^r
31. Sackville Street
London