TALBOT1042

Sir/

I Have made every Inquiry respecting y^r box from Liphook, whether or not it Can Remain Unexamined at the Custom House untill y^r Return and I find it Cannot be done in any other way than by a Treasury order, and Should you think proper to send it, I feel no Difficulty in being able to obtain one having made Enquiry ab^t it –

I have been Informd by M^r Tully that the Tellescope will be Compl^d the later End of this week (which of Course I do not believe) but Should that prove even the Case – I have made up my mind, not to Receive it, for two Reasons, the first is that the 15^th day of this month will be past; and the Second is, that their [sic] is no Vessel ab^t Sailing for Leghorn Either in a Direct or Indirect way, at Present; the agents Say it will be a few weeks first, but in truth their [sic] is no doubt but their 2 or 3 Weeks, will prove 5 or 6

I Sincerely hope my decision will meet y^r approbation – I feel greatly obligd Sir, for y^r Kind Enquiry after my health and am happy to have it in my power to Say that I am Tolerably well. I think Something better on the whole, but Certainly not worse; for the last Six Months I may Say decidedly better

The Contents of the Packet from the Royal Institution is a Certificate of Election, and Receipt – ¹

I Sincerely hope Sir you are in good health, as also the whole of the Family –

The Weather here for the last Fortnight hath been Siverely [sic] Cold, with hard Frost and a heavy fall of Snow, the Thermometer Frequently as Low as 23, we Expect the Thames Frozen in a day or two Should this weather Continue, –

Y^r most Respectful and very ob^t Servant
R^d Burden

Jan^y 16^th/23

I should have wrote Earlyer Sir but waited the Event of M^r Tully –

I have not as yet Rec^d y^r order for to forward Some books to you, which you mention in y^r Last –

Fox W H^y Talbot Esq ²
sign^r Inglese
Poste Restante
Napoli