TALBOT761

Melbury ¹
April 8^th

My dear Henry,

I cannot bear that the communication between you & I sh^d be so very seldom as it has lately, I am aware that altho' I wrote last I ought to have yo written two Letters to thank you properly for the presents you sent. We have been staying at Deans Leaze and Abbotsbury ² since I wrote last and have been enjoying ourselves extremely. Whilst I was at D. L. I found a Jungermanniad (or perhaps as Aunt C. ³ thinks a Marcantia) it is very large for a Jungermanniad but I think there is but one Mar^tia that divides in four which this did. it was very much like this but some much longer, we like wise found two more in fruit both unknown to me - Pterogonium Smithis is so common in Dorsetshire that I have hardly seen an Elm without it. Aunt Charlotte has been talking about a so new substance called Ulmine,⁴ which is only found on Elm Trees - now Sir as you are learned in those subjects & live in the way of hearing of those sort of things I beg you will send me the history of its birth, parentage, & education

How goes on your Astronomy I think the weather for the last week has been very favorable [sic] for it. I only wish you could teach me a little for my taste always was for it [illegible deletion]. Charry ⁵ & I now talk loud ive to astonish the world about [missing text]⁶ and &c. Christopher ⁷ has (as I conclude you know) left Harrow ⁸ for good - I must say I think they are going on rather oddly there at present from Kit's description - I shall make him write to you if I can as I think it will entertain you to hear how they have been proceeding -

your aff Coz ..
Jane T.

Sherborne, April Nine, 1817 Ilchester ⁹
W. H. F. Talbot Esq^r
Rev^d M^r Bonney's ¹⁰
Normanton
Rutlandshire