TALBOT6035

My Dear Henry

I ought to have thanked you sooner for the Photographs you have sent me – a most splendid donation & very particularly acceptable, as we could get no views of the interesting spots in Sicily & I had only time or capability to draw one or two architectural things such as Door Ways &c I hope soon to find an opportunity of sending you a specimen of Sicilian Agate ¹ in the shape of the handle of a Paper Knife, but I do not like to trust it except to a safe hand – I suppose if I leave it chez Nicole alias M^r Henneman in Reg^t S^{t 2} you will be here to receive it in the course of time –

We did see the precise scene of Proserpine’s ³ romantic adventure but it was not at Enna, ⁴ but on the Banks of the small river Anapus ⁵ that she was carried off whilst wandering in the “flowery meads” – NB Now that would be a dangerous pastime, at least in summer, not for fear of another such elopement, as swarms are extremely scarce in those parts but on account of the Malaria which persists to a great extent in the neighbourhood of Syracuse. We have got some Papyrus gathered by [ourselves?] growing in the Anapus. Pray envy us!

I must again thank you for your present of the Etymologies⁶ – Poor M^r Mundy⁷ daily laments that he can read so very little, but as he is improving by degrees we hope in time he may be able to profit both by that & all the other books which have accumulated during our two years absence.

Believe me Y^r Aff^t Cousin & Sister
HG^a Mundy

Markeaton
28 Oct.