TALBOT1502

Melbury ¹
Nov^r 4

My dear Henry

On my arrival here I received your letter from Paris, I am very glad to hear Aunt Lily ² is so much better, I am sure change of scene will do her as much good as change of air; it is quite surprising to see how much amusement will do for people who are really ill. I remember well how incredulous I was about it in former days. I always allowed it to be of use to imaginary invalids but now I have seen so much that I am unwillingly undeceived. – Jane ³ & her chicks are gone to town – they left Glamorganshire a day before we did all quite well I am happy to say. We set out last Tuesday and only stayed a day in Bath in our way here. Sir C. ⁴ came on in the Coach from Bath & found that Giles ⁵ was going by the same conveyance which made the journey very pleasant to both parties. Giles has been very ill & is still far from well he had a violent cough when he set out from Scotland but he has nearly lost it now. M^rs Campbell ⁶ is here very middling indeed with a bad cold. Emily Murray ⁷ too has something of the same sort which prevents her singing but is not otherwise of much consequence the rest of the party consists of Lady G. Murray ⁸ Lady Ilchester, ⁹ Tom Strangways ¹⁰ & a Cap^t Fair who is a stranger to me. – I hear surprising accounts of Aunt Susan. ¹¹ I long to see her, it is years since I have been in Dorsetshire so I must expect alterations but really to hear Aunt Susan talked of one would think her the same as ever she is a delightful person at all times. – Aunt Strangways ¹² has been very ill & she kept her bed for a fortnight I believe – but she is much better now indeed they say she is quite well. – I have not heard anything of the Moreton party ¹³ for some time, only news came to Glamorganshire from Cornwall that Harriot ¹⁴ was going to be married to Lord Yarmouth so I send it a little farther. I like a proper gossip when I can’t believe a word of it myself! I believe he has been at Paris for years & probably she never saw him! – Sir Charles Lemon ¹⁵ is gone into Cornwall now he passed us on the road at Old Down we saw him at Bath before he set out. Mamma ¹⁶ thought him considerably better than he was when he left Penrice ¹⁷ he seemed in middling spirits & said he wished he was going with us. M^r Henry Dyke & his two elder sisters went with Sir Charles to Carclew ¹⁸ I believe M^rs Dyke ¹⁹ goes too in a day or two. Mr & Mrs Joddrell are to be there this winter too – so I hope Sir Charles will have some of them with him all the time he may be at home. – We have heard from Kit ²⁰ at Cadiz again he was detained by the Easterly winds, his last letter was dated the 27 Sept^r he desires we will direct to Naples for the present he thinks of travelling about when he has laid the Yacht up for the winter. I wish you were to be of his party, it would add to his pleasure so much, he loves an indefatigable companion. M^r Mansel is with him but talks of returning in the Spring overland. – Our stay he[re]²¹ is not settled so you had better direct to Penrice when you do write. – I hope you received a letter ²² Charlotte ²³ wrote to you some time ago, she sent it to Sackville Street ²⁴ because she did not know how to direct to you any where else. – Mamma received the “roots from Zante” & all possible care will be taken of them you may be sure. C. was delighted with the litho-graphic drawing. ²⁵ She and Emma ²⁶ have been indefatigable in sketching this summer & the things they have coloured in their master M^r Copley Fieldings ²⁷ style are uncommonly pretty. We have had some delightful exploring parties this Autumn & when you come next we shall be able to show you several odd places which were not heard of when you were last at Penrice. – Mamma’s eyes have been very bad lately owing to her having such violent sneezing fits ²⁸ which weaken them very much but she is rather better now I think. When you write again do tell me how Lady H. Galwey’s ²⁹ girls are. I hope Caroline ³⁰ will ultimately get over her weakness of lungs, Harry ³¹ was ill too when they left Southampton I think. – Many thanks for your amusing letter, I am obliged to send you an account of every body in return which I hope will do as I have no amusing ideas I am afraid at any time –

Love from all to all –

I am your aff^ate coz
Mary.

Nothing can exceed the brilliant green of the fields every where how can it be November

à
Monsieur
Monsieur Talbot
Poste Restante
Paris