TALBOT3693

Ans^d with a box of bulbs& seeds. June 25/38 JFWH ¹

Lacock Abbey,
June 11^th

My Dear Sir

Any Cape bulbs which you have really to spare, will be very acceptable, but I consider myself not worthy of Satyrium’s – I was unable to flower those you sent before; they produced large orbicular leaves but no flower stem. I don’t know whether Lindley ² succeeded better, but he was very anxious to obtain the flowers, & I gave him some good roots, to try. M^r Bateman ³ who is publishing a splendid work on Orchidiæ, is I believe the most successful cultivator. When in Town last week I dropped a card at your residence in the Regents’ Park. I don’t know whether you found it. They said you were gone into the county for the day: what a pleasant position you have chosen with a grove of young flowering shrubs before your windows.

I shall return to Town the 14^th for a week or so. Do you reside now as formerly at Slough? If so, the railway will prove an amazing convenience to you. I went by it the other day; we reached Maidenhead in 50′ (ex. stoppages) I don’t want to go faster than that.

Since you left us, a new science has sprung into great notice, I mean Animal Magnetism, ⁴ I don’t know what to make of it, but I think it ought to be thoroughly examined into. It is unworthy of the dignity of science, that such a question should be left in its present half & half condition.

Believe me to remain Dear Sir Yours very truly
H.F. Talbot

Sir W. Hooker ⁵ has named after your friend M^r Harvey, ⁶ a Cape plant of his own discovery, a very singular looking thing, the Harveia Capensis.