TALBOT2562

Penrice ¹

My dear Henry

I wish you would be so kind as to put the proper direction on Uncle W^m’s ² letter & forward it to M^r Baudinel[?] I do not know now he has risen a step what fine title he may have. You may be sure I should have written to tell you of the expected change in our family when any of our friends were written to, but Uncle Harry ³ was the only person to whom Mamma ⁴ had said anything and as there is no time fixed for the marriage, we do not talk much about it; we are well acquainted with the lucky man who will be one of your cousins, and it is a pleasure to think how well suited he is to Emma ⁵ – and what a good Son & Brother he has always been, he is agreeable & well informed so with good temper & good principles they cannot fail to be happy. M^r Dillwyn ⁶ is so overjoyed I believe he thinks of nothing but his son’s happiness & Mrs Dillwyn too is just the same. We cannot but feel what we shall lose, it will be very strange to me to have no sister at home. I have had some seeds from Uncle W^m which you forwarded to me via Jane, ⁷ there is Lachenalia amongst them which I fear will be a long time coming to any thing. We have acconites [sic] & snowdrops in a great many places in the gardens besides the Erica Carnea & [illegible] I have also a nice row of Crocus pusillus in blow one is from Florence, striped like Scotch, the others are buff outside & lilac inside. – Don’t forget some day to give me a root of your Allium subhirsutum according to an ancient promise. I hope I have remembered the right name it is a delicate white flower & the green leaves are hairy along the edge. Our kind love to all I am in haste

your aff^ate coz Mary.

Mamma pretty we[ll]⁸

W. H. Fox Talbot Esq^re MP.
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts