TALBOT1447

Milan
June 20^th 1826

My Dear Mother

I am going home as fast as I can when I hope we shall be able to find some plan of refreshment & amusement for you which I am sure you must stand in need of – I wish you would join my Aunt Harriet’s ¹ party at Cowes for change of air and scene.

The melancholy news of my Aunt’s death ² grieved me exceedingly; I had heard she was better and it came quite unexpected to me. I wish my uncle ³ would go abroad or try to interest himself in some pursuit. I am glad that he has a mind full of resources; at any rate I hope he will not stay in Town which would be so dismal for him.

I think of crossing Lake Maggiore from Ancona to the northern extremity, then by S. Bernardino and across the Lake of Wallcustadt to Zurich & Bale. This I have devised as being the shortest route or nearly so.– My carriage prevents me from taking any of the other innumerable roads thro’ Switzerland except the simpler. I met here by chance the Seymer’s ⁴ which was very fortunate as they are a very amiable family. M^rs S. has an admirable talent for painting, she has copied Raphael’s Fornarina ⁵ admirably. I have already asked you to write to me at Coblenz but I don’t know whether an answer to this letter w^d be in time. I think of sailing for some Dutch port. My love to all.

Your Aff^te Son
H.T.