TALBOT4351

Dabton
Thornhill
March 13^th 1875

My dear Papa,

I have never written to thank you for your letter which I received on my birthday and for the book, Records of the Past, ¹ which arrived next day – I like having them very much, as they are very interesting, although one would scarcely sit down to read them through! I have purchased the 2^d vol, to complete the series, although that one contains nothing of yours – Mama ² sent me your very interesting letter about M^r Smith’s ³ recent discoveries at Nineveh – How very curious it is – It will make quite a sensation when published –

Here we are still struggling with the remains of winter which will not go away. two or three little spring flowers are peeping out & looking pinched & chilly – The wind remains constantly in the north-east – It changed two days this Sunday & Monday and that change was really delightful but on Tuesday it went back to the old quarter – Alick Kennedy and his bride are here – They came on Wednesday, intending to go to London today – but they are going to remain till Monday now – They were nearly frozen, coming over the hills from Knockgray – We took over the cuttings of appletreees to Speddoch, ⁴ thinking that they would have a better chance there, and kept nearly all the Anemonies [sic] here – The little blue ones you gave us long ago, are coming up nicely – They will not be in flower for a long time, I suppose – We have been planting some shrubs, rhododendrons, hollies & other things on the lawn here – it always looked very bare – and we think it will be a great improvement –

The children send their love

your most affec^te daughter
Tilly

We expect Jack & Willie ⁵ on the 25^th of this month –

[envelope:]
H.F. Talbot Esq^r.
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham