TALBOT4435

Laycock Abbey
25^th February 1842

My Dear Henry

I cannot describe to you how excessively pretty Matilda ¹ looks to day con una corona di fiori, ² a chaplet of Laurustinus & snow drops, in honor of her Birthday.

I enclose a scrap for your inspection by which it appears to me that the Author has never seen any good calotypes ³ but probably some only that have been done by bunglers. Je mettrai ordre a tout cela ⁴ if I were you. I hope you have written to Florence to tell them of the child’s name, it is a pity to withhold what would give so much pleasure. When Constance ⁵ mentioned it to me we were both so nervous that I did not clearly understand what she said about other names to be added, but I think you ought to give some surname for a distinction, there are so many Talbots about the world. Lord Talbot ⁶ has six sons, & by the time your little boy ⁷ is grown up all the six may perhaps have as many more, not to mention the Shrewsbury ⁸ branch, & the Talbots of Malahide. Your surname of Fox has certainly been of use to distinguish you & the name has every probability of being extremely multiplied in the age in which this little one will flourish. There is likewise the Margam ⁹ offsets to be guarded against.

By a letter Constance received this morning from Horatia ¹⁰ she depends on your going for her, which she considers a promise, and I suppose she has no other prospect as they seem to have formed no plans.

I say nothing about the Babe & his nurses, as Constance says she is going to write to you later in the day

Aff^ly y^rs
E F