TALBOT2422

Kilm ¹
Sep^r 26.

Dear Talbot

We had a second meeting at G.H.² the 8^th of last month - more brilliant than the first - a large accession of new Members - L^d Bath Col à Court ³ &c gave in their adhesion, & were present & there is a long list of Aspirants for 1833. There has also been a Meeting at Fonthill⁴ - but that was a sort of Picnic independent of the Selwoods ⁵ - on a smaller scale. as [sic] an experiment it answered well & next year, one of our reunions (for the convenience of the Wiltshire members) will probably be there.

Why were not you with us? we advertised in Three Papers - the Bath - the Salisbury & the Sherborne Mercury. - had you only put your Glass to y^r eye at Laycock - you must have seen our Signal Flag floating on Alfreds Tower⁶ - I should have written to you - but we were so bothered about the getting up of our Drama - that several of the Dram: Pers: slipped thro' our fingers you amongst the number - in truth our house was fuller than it would hold - & we could only have offer^d you a squeeze which you might not have liked - but as y^r Sponsor to the honourable the S.F- I depend upon you for the first meeting next year of which you shall have timely notice by Telegraph Fiery Cross⁷ - or otherwise - & pray remember the more neophytes ⁸you can bring us the better.

So our worthy Sherrif H Egleston[?] Esq^re Sec^r & Treas^r Wincanton has favoured you with one of his polite duns⁹ - why did not you read y^r Peagreen letter? You would then have discovered that tho an unworthy Manager - I have not the honour of being Dep^ty Treasurer of the S:F- & that the pain & penalties of Defamation are very terrific - disfranchisement is nothing to them - but you are in good time - & I will transmit y^r cheque to the Wincanton Bank. - There will be a reprint of our Circular soon - by which the former you will see that the Subscription for the year 1832 is one guinea & a half - (with a guinea entrance for all new members balloted for). I think you were admitted before the ballot took place - consequently you have paid half a guinea too much - but at our last general meeting at Stourhead - with a view to the purchase of a Tent for the accommodation of the Ladies it was proposed & agreed unanimously - that the subscription for the year 1833 should be continued at one guinea & a half - instead of one guinea as appears in the Peagreen - so you will have only one guinea to pay for 1833.

I was in y^r neighbourhood about a fortnight ago - on a visit to my old Friend the Dean of Christ Church at Iford. ¹⁰I got on my Pony intending to call on you one fair morning but within 3 miles of [illegible deletion] Laycock Pony fell lame - & I had much ado to get back in time for dinner - [illegible] - I dare say I missed - if not the disappointment of finding you not at home - the sight of a great many rare & curious Plants & other things well worth a 20 miles ride - we are going to Marston ¹¹today so I am scrabbling away for a frank - kind remembrances from M^rs S and me to M^r Fielding & Lady Elizabeth ¹²

I am y^rs truly
Townshend Selwyn

My only botanical acquaintance in the Isle of Wight is M^r Dust - (an ominous name for [illegible]) Gardener to M^r Nash at Cowes Castle,¹³ plenty of houses but no plants there.

Frome September 1832 twenty eight Ch[illegible] ton
Henry Talbot Esq
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham

Dorset

Bangor ¹⁴
Wales

[on verso:]

Post Office
Bangor
North Wales