TALBOT1535

Berlin
3^d February 1827

My Dear Mother

It is several days since I received Horatia’s ¹ letter from Boulogne, and I am becoming very anxious to hear that you had a good passage. The frosty weather has returned with fresh spirit: Fahrenheit now stands 16 degrees below freezing, with a cloudless moonlight night. I am just returned from a ball at the Theatre, I got there exactly at nine and found the Ball over and the gents at supper; I am told that about seven it had been vy good, and that the Crown Princess was there. However another time I shall be aware of Berlin hours; the Ball Room is one of the prettiest I ever saw; it is in the same building with the Theatre, but in another part. It has a gallery above it, which communicates with the Supper Room. Here is a plan [illustration]

The Stairs are painted in the Italian Style, very prettily – the whole thing is in very good taste, and new and nice. Yesterday I was at the opera of Joconde; ² it was not much applauded tho’ Mad^lle Sonntag ³ was charming. Today I was at the Botanic Garden which is 2 miles off; the chief curiosity is Rousseau’s Herbarium; and his botanical MSS. ⁴ which he appears to have taken much pains with.

Your Aff^te Son
H. Talbot

Feb^ry 4^th

This morning we had a fog as thick as in London, only not so yellow. The thermometer is still sinking, it is now 19 below freezing. I shall soon proceed to Dresden, and you had better direct there in future. I mean to stay at Dresden till the middle of March, and hope to be at Brighton about the 1^st of April, as I don’t think I shall pass thru’ any places in my way home that will detain me more than a day.

Feb^ry 5^th

Fahrenheit this morning 22 below freezing.

Lady E. Feilding
31 Sackville Street
London
Brighton ⁵
Susex