TALBOT2054

Laycock Abbey
14^th September

My Dear Henry

We have only had one letter from you but as the Weather here has been beautiful I trust you have enjoyed yourself. Doubtless you did not go away before you had seen Warwick Castle, which is certainly one of the finest things in England. Harriot & her son & daughter ¹ are just set off to London, they all admired this Place excessively & she herself is more worthy of it than anybody I have yet shewn it to. She spent a whole morning deciphering the antiquities in the Church, Sir W. Sherington’s ² Tomb, &c &c and discovered some I never saw before. She was very mad you were not here to shew the Magna Charta, Black Letter MSS &c &c &c She already knows more of Olive & the Ivorys than I do.³ Luckily the Weather was lovely & the whole place lit up with the most brilliant Sun, so they thought it remarkably chearful as well as curious. I hope you received a letter franked Devonshire which we forwarded to Leamington, but it is always the fate of your letters to follow you about the Kingdom because you stay such a very short time anywhere. I had a letter from Kit in which he desires me to account for your having become desultory & erratic.

The Window grows at a quicker pace since Strong’s ⁴ last visit, and we hope you will send a favorable answer about the angular chimney because they will soon be at a stand till that is determined, & it so happened that Strong thought it would be the best before we had communicated our opinion. I am most anxious this house should be in a state to receive next Summer, it should not be deferred if it is ever to be any advantage to your Sisters ⁵ in the way of society & acquaintances, for tempus fugit. ⁶ I am in great hopes your Aunt Mary ⁷ is coming in her way to Penrice ⁸ & as the weather is so enjoyable I am much pleased at the thoughts of her seeing this place with the leaves on. We have not heard of M^r F. ⁹ since he embarked at Southampton –

Aff^ly yours My Dearest

Your Aunt Harriot was quite delighted that Car. & Hor. could explain to her so much about this place, the old Arches, different improvements & their rates &c &c

W. H. Fox Talbot Esq^{re 10}
Post Office
Doncaster