TALBOT2014

July 1^st 1830

My dear Henry

I hope you have not lost all interest in the contents of the curious old inventory which you shewed us at Laycock – I remember one of the articles mentioned therein which we did not know anything of, was “a Sparver of Carpha” – I have met with an explanation of Sperver which I suppose must be the same word, it is a Canopy or Tester & was frequently used for the whole bed – what Carpha is, I can not find out – though I have been diligently looking for it in the “Tudor Architecture” by Hunt ¹ where I saw the “Sperver” mentioned, which put me in mind of your Inventory. Have you ever seen the book? I saw it today and have been delighted with it there is a picture of a Grange which charms me & I long to build such a place, with a great wooden porch very handsomely carved. It is a long time since we have heard from you & but little have we heard of you – what we have heard of you makes me envious & jealous – and Mary ² hopes you intend to send her a copy of “ Legendary Tales ³ by W. H. F. Talbot Esq^r” – if you have heard of such a book – she hopes you will send her one by Jane ⁴ to shew that you have not quite forgotten your poor Gower cozses [sic]. Published, is it? with illustrations from the designs of C. A. F. ⁵ of noted talent. I am impatient to see it & them for that is all we have any chance, I fear, of coming within reach of anything connected with you – unless you are coming to Cowes – do pray come, for realities are better than “legendary tales” in spite of the want of Romance of the present time. Bella ⁶ is coming down to Penrice ⁷ to see us directly as we shall be setting out for Cowes in the middle of this month I suppose. Christopher & Sir C. came round the Land’s End in the Galatea ⁸ in 2 days – a quick passage – since then I went to Swansea in her, with Kit ⁹ which I enjoyed very much, as we had a beautiful day – I had a fine view of all the caves along that Coast. Pray give my best love to Cal. & Hor. ¹⁰ I am sorry I cannot say much good of Mamma – she has been very poorly lately – so I suppose we shall go to Bath again during our absence from Glamorganshire.

I suppose you hear all about Charry ¹¹ from Jane, we continue to have excellent accounts of her – she likes the Waters at Spa very much.

Pray send me a little scrap in return for this to let me know where you are & what you are thinking of & doing –

I am your aff^te cousin
Emma Talbot

Swansea July two. 1830 Chris^hr Cole ¹²
Henry. F. Talbot Esq^re
Sackville S^tr
London.