TALBOT3032

Dear Henry

Has your Alchemy failed in producing the sympathetic ink ¹ or has it succeeded in rendering invisible not only the writing but the letter?

Where is the comet ² there certainly is none in B. St ³– does it answer your expectations?

Emily ⁴ tells me of a very good gardener who once was at Sir Sam^l Scotts & used to raise many of hers & my seeds during the last three years – would you authorise her to treat with him? he was fond of the art – all I fear is that he may not be a good household & kitchen gardener too but that can be ascertained.

I hear the Valletorts ⁵ are going to stay at Paris, so I suspect Feildings ⁶ will too. Theresa ⁷ has been ill but the account I have today is better.

The Gardener is married to an ex Swiss Governess, ⁸ is that a merit or demerit he may understand Alpine plants better perhaps for it.

Y^r Aff
W F S

Ixia viridiflora grew in my garden at Naples.

Have M^r Herberts ⁹ bulbs encreased with you enough to spare me any?