TALBOT1216

Montague Square ¹
Nov^r 23^d

My dear Henry

Your last letter has been taking a round about sort of journey, or I should have answered it before. I have been in Town with Jane ² for the last three weeks and I shall probably remain with her some time longer, till Christmas certainly, so I hope I shall see you before you visit Dorsetshire. Mamma ³ has been drinking the waters at Bath & finds herself much stronger than she was, (we spent a fortnight there before I came here with Jane) she is to stay another week or ten days, when they all go to Moreton ⁴ for a fortnight or three weeks, and from thence to Melbury and Abbotsbury ⁵ too I daresay; the time for returning to Penrice ⁶ is not fixed, indeed when once they get into Dorsetshire it will be no easy matter to get out of it again I know. – Uncle Harry ⁷ is in London and so is William ⁸ who came home very ill he was quite well apparently when he returned from Dorsetshire about a fortnight ago but has been ill again, M^r Nicholl ⁹ & I walked to see him on Sunday & we both thought him looking ill he said he was much better but he was feverish and had fainted the day before which does not seem a trifle in a Man; Uncle Harry intends taking him down to Melbury with him tomorrow so I suppose good nursing is of more use than the advice he might have at any time in London. He cannot be with a kinder or tenderer Nurse than Uncle Harry is I am sure – Charlotte ¹⁰ has been staying a few days with Aunt Louisa ¹¹ at Bowood, ¹² I think you will find her much improved the air of Malvern ¹³ did her so much good. Isabella and Emma ¹⁴ are very stout and well. – Christopher ¹⁵ has been at Margam ¹⁶ lately he is going to Melbury in a day or two, but as he is a shocking correspondent I cannot tell you any thing of his future plans, I daresay he will stay in Dorsetshire particularly if he has a chance of seeing you there. his new Yacht building at Southampton & he says he shall call her the Don Giovanni which I don’t like at all. She is to be a Schooner a great deal larger than the last Yacht & it is to sail “like the Wind”. – I hope you will be satisfied with my account of the family. I have not delayed sending you word of all I know your letter having arrived yesterday only. – Aunt Louisa is to be in Town in January. Aunt Susan ¹⁷ seems quite stout again by all accounts. Giles ¹⁸ is at Hounslow, I saw him in town one morning, both he & I have been fellow sufferers by tooth ache lately so most of our time was spent in recommending remedies to one another! – Jane sends her kind love

believe me to be your aff^ate coz
Mary. –

Johnny ¹⁹ is quite well & very entertaining.
Jane is very well. I hope my next letter will announce the arrival of a brother or sister for Master Johnny.

à
Monsieur
Monsieur Talbot
Hotel de la Terrasse
Rue de Rivoli
Paris