TALBOT6632

Mount Edgcumbe ¹
June 1^st 1852

My dearest Henry,

I read your letter to Milord ² this morning – & before writing to Co^l Grey ³ I think it best to tell you what he says – tho’ I am sorry to say he was very unwell yesterday & today with gout in the knee, & in consequence of Colohicum & Laudanum is so sick today he can scarcely speak. But first I will mention something M^r Boger ⁴ said the other day which I forgot. That M^r Cartmail ⁵ the Patent Agent was a likely person to be able to tell you now, what chance you have of renewing your Patent when the time comes – Nobody of course can really tell – but those Agents are to a certain degree able to form an opinion.

Well Milord thinks that you would gain more credit by throwing open your invention without Prince A’s ⁶ name attached to the requisition, or even without a public demand being made upon you – but with the understanding that you should receive a public acknowledgement afterw^ds from the scientific & artistic worlds, to which the Prince might be invited to sign his name. He thinks that possibly the Prince’s name appearing beforehand might bear the appearance of a command, or undue influence, to which you might be supposed unable to resist – or that even the réunion of all the other eminent names might seem to have had the effect of bothering you into doing what would come with a better Grace if emanating spontaneously from your own free-will –

While a public acknowledgement appearing afterw^ds would equally well guarantee your claim to the original invention, & carry the same weight with it in memorializing the Gov^t for some mark of honour. This is his advice. I do not say that I agree with it; but in fact I cannot say what plan is the best to adopt, in such an uncertain & difficult matter. There certainly would be more honour in offering the boom – You might say that you did not wish to trade or make money by it, & that not having time to apply the invention in the many ways in w^h it might be made useful, you offer to present it to the Public; but Milord says you must of course be quite sure beforehand of an acknowledgement to be made afterw^ds What mark of honour do you think could be awarded you? I think it w^d be a good plan if you were to consult L. Lansdowne. ⁷ Even if he w^d do nothing he w^d surely give good advice or perhaps L^d J. Russell ⁸ if you were to get an introduction. The D. of Bedford ⁹ was gone the other day when you wrote. L^d M^t E. thinks that Lord Overstone w^d be a good person to consult – He had a good deal to do I believe with the Crystal Palace, & is always mixed up with Art & Science; & I suppose you c^d easily get introduced to him – No doubt Kit ¹⁰ knows him well – He is a great Welsh Banker – Lloyd ¹¹ by name. Many thanks for the Talbotype. Has it been at all touched up? Let me know. It is very good indeed, & wonderful! Of course I keep your letter with great care to know what to say – but shall do nothing till I hear again.

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline

W^d Sir C. Lemon ¹² not be a good adviser? or Kit?