TALBOT7923

Lincolns Inn ¹
25 July 1859

My dear Sir

I send you copy of a letter ² rec^d today from Fry & Loxley ³ – In consequence of this letter, I have looked back to the correspondence with these Gentⁿ in Oct^r 1857 and I find that we did in effect offer to purchase M^r Pretsch’s Patent ⁴ by letter of the 14^th of that month – and on the 24^th in fair name the sum of £200 on the consideration that there remained due to Gov^t £50 at the end of the 3^rd Year and £100 ⁵ at the expir^on of the 7^th Year – It would appear that the £50 has been since paid by the Comp^y and the £100 is still due, but You will observe there is no notice of this in Fry & Loxley’s letter of Saturday.

The offer was made without prejudice & not having been accepted leaves You in all respects free to entertain or not as present circ^es see render expedient.

Of this You will judge it may be that Your subsequent pursuit of the proposed object renders the resumption of the subject inadvisable altog^r or may make the invention of Mr P. Pretsch less valuable in Your estimation than it was in Oct^r 1857.

At all events it would seem that M^r P. P’s visit to me last week and his letter to You ⁶ was not without his knowledge of what was coming

believe me to remain My dear Sir Ever Your’s faithfully
J. H Bolton

W^m H Fox Talbot Esq^re