TALBOT3507

M^t Edgcumbe ¹
Sunday April 30^th 1837

My dear Henry

I think we are pretty well quits as to dilatoriness in answering each other’s letters – indeed of the two you have the least to complain of in that respect – so I shall make no excuses for having delayed so long thanking you for your last, & the charming books you sent me – I did not expect one for myself, & was much toucheé on opening the Ladies Botany, ² to find my name already inscribed therein – I have read part of it, & it seems to me the most easy of comprehension of any book I ever met with on the subject – It is very interesting too – I had no idea before of half the wonders contained in one little Buttercup – As to the other books, you don’t suppose I gave them to Bimbo ³ at once they are far too interesting & precious – By the time they arrived too, he was a great deal better & able to amuse himself in a variety of ways, & besides had had a number of storybooks & Albums lent him by different friends – & as he is full young for Jack the Giant killer, ⁴ I thought I would reserve it a little longer, or only give him a little at a time, & en attendant ⁵ read them myself – I have read to him Tom Thumb, ⁶ & he has read with some assistance the greatest part of Cock Robin ⁷ – he reads tolerably well stories in words of one syllable – but is not very fond of it – & there was no getting on at all, till I instituted rewards – He has a great turn for drawing, & a very correct eye, & is now quite well – which is the principal thing – he can use his arm perfectly, except that the wrist does not turn easily yet – but that will come in time. – M^r Harris dined here a few days ago – he enquired anxiously about you, & whether he should find you in town, where he is going or gone – he has some new papers for you I believe. – What a bad account Mamma ⁸ gives of Papa! ⁹ how sad it is to be al[missing text]¹⁰ laid up in England, & how dull to be shut up in that dingy room in Sackville S^t! ¹¹ I pity you all when I look at the blue sea, & green leaves just coming out – I am afraid poor Gwynne ¹² is very ill too – Is Amandier ¹³ come yet? Give my best love to Constance & Ela ¹⁴ & l’Innomminata ¹⁵ –

Ever my dear Henry Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline

W Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
65 Harley Street
London