TALBOT6902

Estcourt

Tetbury

9 Jan^y <1854>

My dear Talbot

In looking over the old Family Papers at this House, I find many curious old Deeds, about the size of this side of Note paper, on parchments, beginning in the last year of Henry 3^d to the end of Edw^d 4 – After which period they cease to be curiosities. I want a copy of them, and it has occurred to me that the most accurate mode of making it, would be by your Process of Photography –

Will you give me your opinion, whether you think this would be a good Method, and whether you can recommend me a person, competent to create the Likeness, who would come down here, and do it for me, as I do not like to trust the Deeds out of my own possession.

I remember that you<r old? > servant set up in this Line: would he suit?

When you answer this, do tell me something about yourself and M^rs Talbot. We have lost you for <illeg> a twelvemonth – Why did you not attend the Archæological Meetings at Devizes? They were interesting –

Believe me

yours truly

THS Sotheron