TALBOT5549

Lacock
1^st February 1846

My Dear Mother

Won’t you come and meet the Trahernes? ¹

We are to have no eclipse of Mars tonight, the weather being extremely cloudy. Astronomy does not answer in England.

The floods have abated, the weather continues warm, and the spring flowers are coming on rapidly – A species of jonquil narcissus is in full flower in the open air, which I think must be most unusual in January – Horatia’s ² garden is very gay with Crocusses, and all the Shrubbery with snowdrops. –

Aconites are over –

Nicole ³ has just arrived, ready to commence operations tomorrow morning – If you come soon he shall execute anything you desire.

The Railway people and Brunel ⁴ have taken the field, and fired a volley of notices at me – I suppose I shall have as much trouble as last year with them

Your aff^te
Henry