TALBOT3376

My dear Henry

The name of M^rs Seymer’s ¹ late Gardener is Robert Hurst & as he was educated in a great measure by myself I feel much interested in his welfare – I know the Seymers liked him much & were very sorry not to be able to get him a place before they left Hanford – As I do not know where he is at this moment or whether he is disengaged ( tho I think I heard he had engaged himself temporarily to work in a Nursery Garden which w^d be no obstacle to his taking your place) I have written to my Mother ² on the subject & begged her to write to you which will save much time, & if you do not hear speedily I recommend you to write & jog their memory, as Louisa’s ³ illness may put it out of their head again. As far as my knowledge of Hurst extends I should think he would suit you exactly being so passionately fond of flowers that he thinks of nothing else (just what a gardener should do) & was commencing a Hortus Siccus ⁴ when I saw him last – I conclude he is equally good about Fruit, as I know he got lots of prizes in the Blandford Horticultural Society⁵ for his productions. – He married a very respectable young woman who was my Mother’s Laundry Maid for some years & has 1 or 2 Ynstrs. – I own I sh^d like him uncommonly to get so good a place as yours, & where I sh^d occasionally see him, having a small tendresse for my protégé. –

Thanks for your enquiries – I can hear beautifully now & our household doth flourish. Next Thursday we go to pay a visit to M^r Bankes at Soughton in Flintshire⁶ & another to the [Cubits?] in Shropsh but only for a fortnight altogether. Love to C.⁷ & 50 Kisses to my dear Ela ⁸

Y^r aff Cousin
H G Mundy

Oct 10.

Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts