TALBOT6123

Markeaton ¹
Thursday

My dear Henry

Will you tell dear Constance ² that the present is safely come to hand for which many thanks. I sh^d have written to her to say so, but that I wish to ask whether you can tell me [ilegible deletion] the Arms of Ivory?³ I suppose you have got them somewhere & if so no doubt w^d communicate them to me – Perhaps I ought to spell it Ivery but as I do not know I cannot help it if I am wrong. –

What do you hear of the Palermitans ⁴ or at least of kinsfolk at Palermo? They will enjoy seeing Lord Minto ⁵ – I cannot connive a more enviable trip than that of the said Lord M. going in the most luxurious way at his own time just to all the charming places & staying as long as likes & no longer – for of course his Son in Law would not be so undutiful as to hurry or find fault with anything he did –

I am quite troubled about Constance & had no idea she had been so ill – & the children ⁶ too – it is very sad. I hope they will go somewhere for change when they get better to set themselves up –

I am always afraid of C. over exciting herself on account of the rest, but now you are at home you will take care of her I am sure –

We want ie my Father as well as myself, to know when your Pencil of Nature ⁷ is to be finished & hope it will occur shortly. – Did you have a copy of my Uncle Wollaston’s Translation of Persius? ⁸ I could not tell my Father as I was not sure – It is reckoned very well done but was only printed for private circulation. I am so disappointed at Uncle W^{m 9} being sent back to Ffort ¹⁰ without having time to come here first

Y^r Aff^te Sister
HG^a Mundy

[envelope:]
H. Fox Talbot, Esq^re
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham