TALBOT99

Moreton ¹
Tuesday

My dear Henry,

You cannot think how very acceptable your letter was, as it told me something about yourself & every body else, which I wanted to know.

I do not think William ² is tired of Florence yet, in the first place because I had a letter from him a week ago written in remarkably good spirits & 2^ndly because he does not easily get discontented when he thinks that he is duly appreciated which he must know he is now, from L^d Burghersh ³ chusing to stay in England & leaving all the business to him – he always gives me the idea of being a person who wants to be encouraged & to know that he is liked – You are coming here again as you always do just at a time of year when there is literally not an individual thing for you to see but a solitary Aster altaica, notwithstanding which I hope you will come very soon & not be delayed shooting or any other way. Indeed Mama ⁴ desires me to say with her love that she has given M^r Feilding ⁵ leave to remain at Melbury or Redlynch ⁶ a few days after the rest come here if there is any party or shooting which he wishes to join, but that she has no pity for your shooting & will not give you up for even one day and expects you to be here on whatever day Aunt Lily ⁷ &c come.

You are much too scarce & valuable to be wasted on Partridges & Pheasants.

William quite forgot the time of year when he wrote & desires me when you come to ask you if a wild Pulmonaria found here with large spotted leaves is angustifolia – but he told me himself that it was impossible to judge without seeing the flowers, & the only specimen I ever had which I got one year when we did not go to London I sent to him at the Hague.

I cannot remember on which side of the Troy ⁸ question you were last year, but I rather think you were indolently waiting till the learned had decided it for you. M^r W^m Bankes ⁹ differs from me & I am afraid he must be right, tho’ he professes to know but little on the subject – Pray write to me again if you have nothing particular to do. I am sure you would if you knew how much pleasure y^r letters give me and us.

Believe me your Aff^ate Cousin
Harriot Frampton

Mama gives me leave to say that I shall expect to hear from you how Stephen ¹⁰ is before you go to Redlynch, & once again whilst you are there.

Henry Talbot Esq^re