TALBOT5219

Mount Edgcumbe ¹
Monday March 31^st 1845

My dear Henry

I saw M^r Condy ² yesterday, who came over to talk to me about your letter. - He had no answer from M^r Haydon, ³ whom he supposed was very much occupied just at this moment, in getting ready for the Exhibition - This is always a busy time of year for Artists. He then proposed to accompany you himself, provided you do not want chemical skill in the person you engage - which latter qualification he says Mr Haydon possesses, having already dabbled a good deal in your Art. - He said you would find his terms much less than most artists - perhaps half - As I understood he said they w^d be a guinea a day, & his expences paid - & I think on former occasions I have heard him say that he valued his time at the rate of 2G^s a day. I urged him to write & explain himself clearly at once, which he promised to do directly. He only knows of one other Artist, who he thinks w^d be much more expensive, & who he intimated you w^d not find an agreable [sic] companion - He said that if his plan suited you, he w^d give himself up entirely to the undertaking, & devote all his time & energies to it. We think you had better engage him at once, as you might go farther & fare worse - You will find him pleasant & companionable - full of energy & activity; he will get up early & take advantage of the morning's beams; (which you never see any more than me;) as an Artist too I consider him to be possessed of peculiarly good taste; he will chuse good points of view & happy effects of light - which depend upon it is necessary to ensure success in publishing. Ernest ⁴ thinks his terms very moderate - & that you would get no other Artist to assist you à si peu de frais ⁵ -

Y^rs aff^ly
Caroline

Tell [sic]