TALBOT5299

My dear Henry

I have been reflecting, & I feel almost certain that Mess^rs Macmillan¹ will consider my MS too long, & will wish to curtail it, but I hope if they make any such proposition, you will refer them to me, as I should not like it to be used excepting as it is. As regards the body of the work it cannot be shortened, as I have eliminated from My Memoirs everything but what is historical, & her actual public history, with a shortened account of her death. this was quite desirable for a Magazine or for publication but my original Memoir was not written for publication, as no such idea ever crossed my mind. Harriot² asked me to jot down all she or I knew of M^rs Campbell, & so I did.

The part that I think Mess^rs Macmillan will wish to omit to shorten it, is the Vision of Charles 11^th.³ – They may certainly say with truth that it neither relates to M^rs C., the P^ss C. or P. Leopold,⁴ but it is most curious as relating to the assassination told to the P^ss C. & I should be sorry, as you have pronounced it a good translation, to let it be omitted.

Please therefore not to let them do anything of the sort, (if they propose it,) without reference to me. Editors are troublesome, but they will hardly return the MS, with omissions against my permission, whilst I have you to support me; & they must take it as it is, or not at all. I have done my best, & taken great pains about it, & Harriot has pronounced it quite perfect now.

Your aff^te cousin
Louisa C. Frampton

Lulworth Villa
S^t Mary Church
Torquay –
June 12^th evening

[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts