TALBOT4520

4 Circus Bath ¹
April 25^th 1875

My dear Papa

Thank you very much for your kind letter ² of this morning – and for your offer of a book for my birthday. – As I am coming over to Lacock next Tuesday, or some other day soon, we can talk it over together – but I have an idea that one might get a good standard work – (well bound and at a very reduced price.) at a new shop which perhaps you have not yet visited – which has been recently opened at the corner of Queen Square. I have not yet been inside except once to ask a question but there seems to be large collection of both new and second-hand works, and tomorrow I will look in and see whether there is anything very tempting to be had, and whether they have got a catalogue. –

The cold weather of the last few days has caused Monie ³ to put off her excursion for the present: – as it is hardly warm enough yet (though fine again) for sketching purposes –

Will you please to tell Charles ⁴ that I was accosted this morning at the Chapel by M^r Moore the geologist – who enquired whether he was now at Lacock, and whether he was aware of the field club meeting at Chipping Sodbury – I said I supposed he was, as he was now a member of the Club, but to make all sure M^r Moore said he would send him a notice. On my return home I heard from R that he was intending to come in to Bath for the meeting – but as I had not seen his last letter I did not happen to know of it.

Mama ⁵ thinks you will like to see John’s ⁶ letter which was sent her by Tilly ⁷ yesterday, and please after reading it, to return it – straight to Tilly herself by post – as she of course will like to have it back without delay. They seem I think to have had a very prosperous journey – and Jack ⁸ likes the idea of going to Eton – I only hope that Willie ⁹ will not mind being without him at May Place.

I am sure you will be sorry to hear that I have lost one of my nestlings. The two last hatched little Parraquets were not strong – and the weather has been two [sic] changeable for them. one has died and the other is exceedingly weak – but the two of the first nest are quite strong and I hope to rear them –

I will not add more dear Papa as I shall see you so soon.

Your most affectionate daughter
Ela

You do not say what day you are thinking of coming to Bath.

[envelope:]
H F Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham