TALBOT8568

[engraved notepaper:]
Melbury
Dorchester

May 24

Dear Henry Talbot

I return you y^r Photo – and L^d Henry Bentinck recognized his relation at once, so that now, you can have no misgivings as to possessing a true Lord Canning –

I hope you found all well on your return to Milburn¹ My love to M^rs Talbot and y^r Daughters.

We are looking so green, & pretty here, that I am quite glad to delay our visit to London – Last week we spent at Abbotsbury, & 2, or 3 days were quite lovely, & besides the garden being full of White Azalias, &c – the beach was cheerful with fishing Boats, & many 100. of Mackerel were captured –

Tell me whether Sir W. Gordon would undertake a visit to Melbury, and what his Price for the different sized Portraits are, as I feel anxious to have William in Oils, as a Photo– is not sufficiently lasting –

To-day is fine, & warmer than the last two days have been – There was a good Choral Meeting on Thursday at Sherborne. I was prevented going to it myself but some Friends tell me the Even^g-service was particularly well performed –

Y^rs Truly
Sophia Ilchester

Kind regards from W^m to you, & all.

[envelope:]
Henry Talbot Esq^re.
Millburn Tower
Edinburgh