TALBOT3342

Monday
March 9
Lacock

My dear Constance

I enclose the Liverpool letter –¹ We had snow early this morning but it did not remain on the ground long. The snowdrops are almost over, nothing at present beyond crocusses & daffodils & dogs tooth violets. The Times is quite full today of the Ashantee war, ² it is very interesting. We have bought a garden horse which is likely to suit, the price was £30. M^r Skertchley’s³ adventures in Dahomey amused me, he was invited to dance a pas de deux ⁴ with the King and proved equal to the occasion. What a field for the naturalist in Ashantee and Dahomey! Letters in the times describe the view from the Adaasi hills – an unbroken forest à perte de vue.⁵ A naturalist might ramble all his life in such a forest, and still find new paths and new insects.

Lieut. Mundy was in the Navy.⁶ The sailors are now fighting ashore⁷

Yours aff^ly
Henry