TALBOT1878

Rossie Priory ¹
2^d November

My Dear Henry

I hope you have beguiled the time with going to Sir Henry Steuarts ² We certainly leave this tomorrow, & if you got this in time you might as well meet us at Fordell Admiral Durhams ³ where we intend being by dinner time & if so pray bring all our letters, of which there must be an immense accumulation, for they have been directed there for ages, and M^r F. ⁴ thinks there must be some there that signify. On Thursday we go to Hopetoun House ⁵ for a day or two & then to Edinburgh. We have had a very pleasant visit here, excellent Chasse & bonne Chere, ⁶ being good pictures, Fine Antique Mosaic, & merry people Que faut – ill de plus, pour bien jouir de la vie? ⁷ It is a charming house [illegible deletion] with all its perfections inside & out, I would not live at this dreadful distance from the civilized world, for any consideration. They seemed enchanted to have us again at Scone, & I was still more sorry to leave them than the first time, we had jumbled so well together.

Caroline ⁸ has copied a picture of Velazquez ⁹ & a ruined tavern besides all the billiards & waltzing & talking & music – So no more at present

Yours

If you do not come you may direct to me at Admiral Durham’s Fordell, Inverkeithing

Inchture November Two 1829 Hastings
Henry Fox Talbot Esq^r
Post office
Edinburgh