Brighton
Jany 6th 1831
My dear Henry
I think Brighton is growing a little gayer. We had a very pleasant dinner-party Monday, consisting of Lord & Lady Lyndhurst, Mrs Norton, Mrs Methuen, Mr Lambton Mr Lowther, 1 Lord Arthur Hervey & Mr Clarence Pigon, & some people in the evening - the Montagus, Mr Shelley, Henry Fox 2 & the Miss Gents who sung [sic]. Mrs Norton also sang a great many of her own compositions some comic & extremely amusing. Tuesday we went to a party at the Pavilion, which I expected would be very dull but was agreeably disappointed. The rooms are beautiful particularly the large music room, in which we danced, it is quite like a fairy palace. We were presented to the Queen by Lady Mayo, 3 who was the Lady in waiting, & kissed her Majesty's hand. As for the King, 4 while we were deliberating how we should accomplish our presentation to him, he suddenly came across the room & talked to Mama for some time in the most gracious manner. About 11 the Queen retired, walking hand in hand with the Landgravin & followed by all the Ladies & Maids of honor, making quite a procession. There is to be another party there Saturday & a grand ball on the Duke of Sussex's 5 birthday. I had a very nice ride to-day with Papa & Charlotte Butler 6 along the beach to Shoreham I never saw the sea in England so calm as to-day - you could hardly see it move; & there were pretty little vessels sailing about on the blue waves.
Mama 7 has heard from Aunt Harriet - Mrs Mundy 8 is very gay - she has been at the ball at Lady Sophia Gresley's & is k now at Chatsworth, but unluckily cannot shew off her fine dresses as she is still in mourning for the old grandmother, whose death was a most untoward event. Pray write us word if you are at Salisbury & what is going on there. I hear the Court is dreadfully cold & that Lord Lansdowne 9 has caught a very bad cough - do not go & do the same. I am very glad you have begun the good work of moving trees; & that you are going to plant Yonder Heath. - Tell us everything that occurs at Laycock, & whether there <are> any snow-drops in my garden. Addio fratello 10 [text missing] 11
la tua affezionatissima sorella 12
Orazina 13
Let us know how the ball at Bowood 14 went off. I should have liked to have been there. We would not go to Almacks 15 last night as we were so disgusted with the first, but it will be better next time as Lady George Seymour 16 is going with a large party - so I suppose we shall too. Fanny Kemble 17 is going to act here to-morrow.
W. H. Fox Talbot Esqre
Laycock Abbey
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