TALBOT3218

M^t Edgcumbe ¹
2^nd March 1836

My dear Henry

It is so long since I have heard from either of you, that I have not the remotest idea even where you are, but shall send this, au hazard, ² to Laycock Abbey - I think you have no right to complain of Horatia, ³ for it strikes me that you are by far the worst correspondent of the two - Since I wrote to Constance ⁴ we have been paying a visit at Lyneham, M^r Bulteel's ⁵ place - they are our pleasantest neighbours - she is a daughter of Lord Grey's, ⁶ & consequently agrees with me in politics, when by chance we touch upon them - He draws beautifully & keep foxhounds - one day I ventured out hunting, but as no fox was found, we had only a very pleasant ride in a charming country. - Have you heard of a M^r Harris, ⁷ a great amateur, (I suppose he should be called,) of Electricity; (by profession he is a surgeon,) but a very clever man, & who has written several papers for the Royal Institution, ⁸ some of which he gave me - they are rather beyond my scientific attainments at present, but I should like to shew them to you some day, & I dare say you could explain them to me - He has just invented a conductor for ships, which is much approved of. - [illegible deletion] I paid him two visits, during which he shewed us some really beautiful as well as wonderful experiments - his Electric machine is a very large one, & several of his most curious & perfect instruments are made by himself; one in particular for measuring the quantity of electricity to be collected in order to raise a given weight. One of the most beautiful was in imitation of the Aurora Borealis, by causing the electric fluid to pass down the inner surface of a⁹ glass tube, about 5 feet high, from which <the> air had been pumped. - I wished much for you to have been there, to have enjoyed & admired these experiments, avec connaissance de cause. ¹⁰ - L^d V. ¹¹ has been electrified several times, (not a shock) & thinks it does his wrist & ancles [sic] some good - it is so painful however that he declares he can hardly stand it, while M^r Harris who electrifies himself likewise the whole time, does not mind it at all, but rather I believe, thinks it pleasant, such is his love for Science - Addio carissimo fratello ¹² - Best love to Constance & Ela ¹³

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline

Let me know if you have had any tidings from Nice, since the 7^th Feb^y -

W. H. Fox Talbot Esq^re
31 Sackville Street
Laycock Abbey
Piccadilly
Chippenham
Wilts
London