TALBOT4398

Melbury ¹
Tuesday

Dear Henry

I am happy to see the Examiner agrees with me in opinion, he says "For stealing a Penny from a Letter the carrier is transported for life-² For the Exchequer bill fraud Mr Beaumont Smith is transported for life.³ Things that are equal to the same thing are equal to each other, therefore the exchequer bill fraud & the robbery of the Penny are in the eye of the Law equal". &c &c "the lesson seems to be that they should take care to steal gold at least. A little stealing is a dangerous thing. Steal much, or filch not ⁴-" &c &c A parcel is to be sent from L. Abbey directed to me in Sackville Street, ⁵ which pray tell Nicole to take in & alter the directions to Lady Caroline Strangways ⁶ Melbury Dorchester. We think this the shortest way of getting a parcel across the country, as there seems no certainty of their being conveyed from the Station at Bath to the office of the Weymouth Coach. This is a great demerit of Railways. If you happen to be coming this way you might bring it. They often ask me when you are coming here. The two Marys ⁷ come here from Abbotsbury ⁸ & Mintern next Tuesday

Aff^ly y^rs
E F

If you are not coming, ask Nicole ⁹ to forward that parcel the same day - & to see that it is so packed that the little duodecimos will not fall out, which perhaps Sophia may not have attended to

[The envelope for this letter is in a private collection:]
Henry Fox Talbot Es^qr
31. Sackville Street
London