TALBOT1850

Temple Newsam ¹
24^th August

My Dear Henry

We yesterday saw Rockingham Castle, ² belonging to Lord Sondes. There is a Gallery there the same length as at Laycock full as old & in worse condition but very comfortable being paved & covered with an old Turkey Carpet, & looking respectable. There is a billiard Table at one end & the sides books. all the house is up and down steps from one room to another, which certainly was the goût d’autrefois. ³ The Castle was built by the Conqueror, ⁴ but the date of the Gallery & habitable rooms is 1579, but the only pleasant one is the Gallery, the others are extremely low & dark. M^r F. ⁵ has desired some partridges to be sent in your names to M^r W Awdry M^r Paley ⁶ & the Tenants. I am much better than when I wrote to you last from Wrotham Park ⁷

Ever Yours aff^y

We shall not get to Lowther till next Monday the last day of this Month, now we are to see Bolton Abbey & Windermere

Henry Fox Talbot Esq^r&c &c &c