TALBOT2017

[this is written on the same sheet as a note from Horatia - see ]

L. abbey
Monday 8^th Feb^y

Dear Henry

I hope by this time 200 of my Cards are arrived in Sackville Street ¹, as I ordered them from Halfhide’s ² to be there to day. Pray send one to Madame de Lieven’s ³ at Ashburnham House tomorrow, if they are not yet sent home, Franklin ⁴ can get one from Halfhide’s for that purpose, for if it is not sent to Mad^me de L’s in the course of tomorrow it is no use. Halfhide lives in Coventry Street – We spent yesterday Morning at Bowood ⁵ to day they are all gone to Sidmouth. Part of Kerry’s ⁶ Prize Composition is printed, M^r Moore ⁷ has seen it & thinks it extremely good, far beyond what he expected. The subject is rather beyond his years, “The Influence of the Bible on the Literature of England” ⁸ – But the quantity of Books it has obliged him to consult has done him infinite good. M^r Moore seems in high glee, & told us that among all his laudators none had pleased him so much as Professor Babbidge ⁹ [sic] who said his analysis of the character of Byron ¹⁰ came nearer to Science than any thing he had ever read. This from him was the highest praise, besides M^r Moore says his own reasoning powers are strong, which nobody will believe because he is a Poet, and that Babbidge alone does him justice in this respect. The Gallery ¹¹ looks so gay now the roof of the new room is gone, all the Sun comes in again. I wish you saw it without its old cumbersome furniture, it does not look narrow at all. –

W. Henry Fox Talbot
31 Sackville Street
London