TALBOT3874

Saturday 4^th. May

My Dear Henry

Do have your Camera Obscura ¹ repaired, those from Nature ² are thought more wonderful than any.

I have been ill & am not yet allowed to go out, which is the reason I have not been able to buy the Prints I promised you. I kept my bed one whole day & am still weak, but good Dr. Ferguson ³ m’ai tire’ d’affaire pour cette fois. ⁴ I hope you received various muslins & ribands to be photogenized ⁵ – Tell me where to get the Memoir ⁶ upon Photography, as I have given away all the copies you gave me. Sir John Herschell ⁷ did send for his parcel, & so Dr. Ure. ⁸

Matilda’s ⁹ was the only one I could take the liberty of opening, which I did to give the Russian Doctor who was in so great a hurry to send them to S^t. Petersburg ¹⁰ by the Sirius ¹¹ Steamer. Shelburne’s ¹² is an unfortunate business as he will not be en bonne odeur ¹³ at home again for a long time. I have endeavored to pursuade him that the next time he does a foolish thing he should do it in a sensible manner. Plus un dimanche est hasardé’ plus on doit soigner les details. ¹⁴ He talks of going soon abroad to avoid cold looks at home. His Father ¹⁵ is very justly incensed that such wretches should ever have been admitted under his roof. If he had consulted Kit ¹⁶ who has such a good head for business instead of the youngest of all his friends! neither Lord L. nor Lord I. ¹⁷ had the remotest idea of the transactions till they saw it in the newspapers.

My sister ¹⁸ has been quite unhappy about it but the world in general take part with the son & abuse the Father which is most unjust

y^r

E F

Henry Fox Talbot Esq
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts