TALBOT6790

31 B. St. ¹
16 May

My dear Henry

I admire your new art very much - Whewell ² whom I met at Lord Rosse's ³ told me you were after something of the kind. I like the grapes best - next the ferns - the geranium & other leaves have a sort of mezzotint graining in them which is deceptive as it gives an idea of texture which it does not represent - Cannot the plain surface of the ferns be made to express the fructification or venation? Is the photographic engraving applicable to statues & architecture?

I took some specimens to H^t Mundys ⁴ where I dined yesterday to meet Caroline ⁵ - who immediately began to want some too - which I dare say she will get as she told me she was going to Lacock before you start for the Pyrenees.

This day week, the 23^d I leave town for Abbotsbury ⁶ - can you send me the little Tacsonia up before then & I will take it with me. The Hortic. Exhibition was very fine in orchidacea on Saturday - few other plants.

I have had some beautiful Camellias & Rhods - sent up - it is too far to send whole plants up for show. I hardly think I shall get to Kew this time, it is better with seeing in summer John ⁷ is here going in ten days to Lanelay. ⁸ The Trahernes ⁹ are coming Wednesday next I believe. Emma ¹⁰ tells me Dryas 8petala grows wild by the sea. her Beschornerias are up & doing. I have got Catesby's Hortus ¹¹ a good book to have - & some of the Ray Society's ¹² books - Their translations from German are very indifferent - At Lord Rosse's I saw beautiful Photographs of Venice there is a pho. Exhibition somewhere I mean to go & see.

I hope Ela ¹³ is got well.

Y^r aff
W F S