TALBOT1881

Edinburgh

5^th November 1829

Will you make many excuses for me to Sir Philip & Lady Durham, ¹ and say that I have affairs which will prevent my leaving Edinburgh today avec mille expressions de régret. ²

I am not at all ennuyé ³ here as you might suppose, on the contrary I found plenty to do, besides I like sometimes as Horatia ⁴ says to have one’s time to oneself.

I have not been yet to see the sights of Edinburgh, except the outsides of the buildings. I keep the insides until you arrive. I have visited Salisbury Crags & Arthur’s Seat which I supposed you would not be going to. If I had known you meant to stay two entire days at Adm^l Durham’s I would <illegible deletion> have met you there, because that is long enough to make an agreeable acquaintance but as I had an occupation I am would not interrupt it for a visit of a single evening. But why <illegible deletion> don’t you mention who the party are at Fordell ⁵, they might be people that I particularly wished to meet.

You leave me in the dark whether you propose to take me with you to Hopetoun House ⁶ – If so I will meet you tomorrow at South Queensferry Inn at 4 o’clock or any other time, that is <illegible deletion> if you can <illegible deletion> send me your answer by the Post in time – I believe there is a penny post to Edinburgh. I was interrupted in the midst of this by the Cannon of the Castle, expressing their abhorrence of Gunpowder Treason, and the Echoes were so magnificent that I went out to hear.

It is a most picturesque fortress, Caroline ⁷ will have much to sketch there & all through this City.

Robert takes her a letter which came to this hotel franked from Colinsburgh a place I never heard of before.

Yours aff^ly

Henry

Lady Elisabeth Feilding
Fordell House
Inverkeithing