TALBOT7291

Cowes
Aug 31 1856

My dear Henry

I am what M^rs Malaprop ¹ would call a very poor geologist, but to the best of my recollection we have no claim to the Earldom or estates of Lord Shrewsbury, by reason of the intervention of the Ivory’s, for our Talbots are in reality not Talbots, but Ivorys who assumed the name.², Were it otherwise, whatever might be Earl Talbots claim to the title & estates, ours would be superior, in as much as we are descended from a progenitor, his family being by the Second wife: and our by the eldest. But his went apparently in the male, ours is initiated by a female succession.

I will send you a copy of the pedigree when next I go to Penrice.

Yours very truly
CRM Talbot

[envelope:]
W. H. F. Talbot Esq^r
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts