TALBOT1523

Metz

6^th Jan^ry 1827

My Dear Mother

The weather & the appearance of the country continue just the same. Today the glass front of my carriage which is very slight came tumbling down, and the wind took that opportunity to rise very high & blow exactly in my face, which caused me to cast anchor at the Hotel du Nord in the city of Metz until the damage should be repaired, which is not so easy on a jour de fête ¹ like today. The skaters are mustering strong on the pools. My thermometer in the pocket of my carriage could not be induced today to rise so high as the freezing point and in coaxing it I broke it, so I threw its remains into a ditch to be a wonder or a terror to the peasants of the Meuse when the snows shall melt, and the unknown talisman shall meet their eyes. I procured another here for the moderate price of 2 francs and a half and I suppose its goodness is small in proportion. It now marks 20 outside my window, that is 12 below the freezing point. The weather is as serene as possible, indicating settled frost. I visited the Cathedral of Metz ² by owl light which is my favorite light for Cathedrals, it appeared venerable & beautiful. I wrote to Car. & Hor. ³ from Châlons & Verdun.–

I fortunately got a newspaper today at dinner and the good news from Lisbon ⁴ warmed me more than a good dinner, & a bottle of Champagne which I brought from Epernay –

Your aff^te Son

Henry Talbot

Lady Elisabeth Feilding

to the care of Mr Wright
Ship Inn
Dover
Angleterre