TALBOT3452

M^t Edgcumbe ¹
Saturday Feb^y 18^th

My dear Henry

I have not yet looked over all my Seedlings you sent me last year regularly, with the Catalogue, but from a cursory view I am prepared to tell you that great numbers are growing & flourishing – particularly the Pinus Maritima, Alepensis & Racemosa The last mentioned looks exactly like the one you gave me from l’Isola Bella – The nettle tree is about 4 inches high, but does not look well – merely I suppose from having shed its leaves – The 3 Acacias which were given in charge to M^r Parker in the Kitchen garden, have flourished wonderfully – they were sheltered, as desired, in a hothouse, & are now, I should think a foot high – The Julibrissin looks particularly well – If you will write to me, I will give you more details another time – & first of all, I want an answer to the following question Were the two planets we observed last Tuesday 14^th to the Eastward, or rather South-Eastward, & very near each other, Mars & Venus? or Mars & Jupiter? It was a most lovely day – quite Summer – we went out to Penlee, & climbed up to the tower – Horatia ² was delighted – it must do her good to live in a continual state of enjoyment, as she does whenever the weather is tolerable & she is in sight of the sea – That day we did not reach home till 6, & the stars were shining brightly as I told you – Don’t forget to answer My direction is M^t Edgcumbe – Devonport – Love to Mamma, & Constance ³ – Bimbo ⁴ is very well – L^d V– ⁵ not so well – he has been in bed all day with gout in his left arm –

Addio fratello carissimo ⁶ –
Y^r aff^te Sister

Caroline

W. Henry Fox Talbot Esq^r
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham