TALBOT2219

Markeaton ¹
Aug. 11.

My dear Henry

My conscience reproached me for not writing yesterday but I really was too happy at being once more amongst flowers to do anything but enjoy myself, which I did by eating fruit & murdering Wasps. – Aunt Lily ² delivered your box most faithfully & we admire your choice extremely & I assure you I am very much obliged to you for not forgetting your promise – M^r Mundy ³ is particularly fond of Sevigné’s ⁴ [sic] so that he highly approves your taste and begs I will tell you so –.

Is there any chance of your nerves having recovered the shock they received last year from the Derby Tread Mill⁵ & that you will bend your footsteps northwards this Autumn – Pray give us due notice if ever such a thought should strike you that we may shew worthy hospitality –.

I am very busy reading Schillers Verschwörung des Fiesko ⁶ & after that mean to get by heart a few phrases ready for Francisca Eichman[?] because perhaps you are not aware that we have great designs of paying Laycock & Bowood ⁷ a visit on our way to spend Xmas at Moreton. ⁸ But it is a long time till Christmas & it makes me very cold to think of it & so I shall say no more about it – Have you ever seen Swanage – if not pray pay it a visit now you are in Dorsetshire. The Seymers ⁹ are staying there for him to try sea bathing which however I much fear will be of very little service to h[im].¹⁰ If you are at Abb^{y 11} give my love to all including dear St Catharines ¹²

Y^r Aff Cousin
H^t G^a Mundy

I want to find out something about S^t Werburgh ¹³ & am puzzled how to manage it as my mother’s ¹⁴ Vies des Saints ¹⁵ has no Index – If you ever meet him at dinner pray ask him what he is the Patron Saint of &ca?

Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
Abbotsbury Castle
Dorchester
Dorset
Hotel Swanage
[illegible deletion]
31 Sackville Street ¹⁶
Piccadilly
London