TALBOT359

[engraved address:]
Melbury Dorchester ¹
18 July

My dear Henry

I shall never direct to the Athenæum ² again. I thought you must be at the Pyrenees at least. A yellow saxifrage I brought plants of from Cauterets is in flower–³ the Dianthus I brought & the Pinguicula came to nought. I suppose they were D. Monspeliensis & P. grandiflora (hirtiflora of Tenore). ⁴

We have in flower Arundo conspicua – Ismene Amancaes – Convolvulus Mauritanicus – Salvia bicolor. Parviflora incarnata (very ill named) Candollea – Leptodactylon a plant, if not too pretty, which would seem to be named in honour of the swell mob – or lightfingered gentry ⁵.

Your Campanula Vidalii does not show flower this year.

We have Dianthus alpinus at Abb^{y 6} on the rock – D. Marsicus I brought from Italy & it is a great favourite. What is really D. Hispanicus?

The hot weather has made the American Oaks come well into leaf. they always show their want of a good summer. Erodium Manescavi is very handsome. When will you come back to Lacock? I try to see it every time I pass Chippenham. ⁷

The 6. August I think will suit us very well – I have not heard from Caroline ⁸ but you can come independent. The house is full of work & workmen – we can give you but a poor bedroom.

I believe I told you of the American fungus that came upon George Sheffields ⁹ American Arums he sent me as dry roots – how could it have been concealed?

Y^r aff
W^m

I hope you are all. all [sic] well