TALBOT2136

Sunday

My dear Henry

The ball turned out better than you we we expected. It was exceedingly pretty - we had Collinet on purpose from Paris & a most delicious band of 40 or 50 musicians. The Queen ¹ looked better than usual in her diamonds & waltzed with the Prince of Orange. ² It was not near so crowded as I should have supposed - but there were some most extraordinary figures.02..

We had a very pleasant dinner Thursday M^r & M^rs Norton Charles Fox, Francis Baring - M^r Shelley - M^rs Law - M^r Lowther & M^r Lushington ³ - & in the ev^g the Gents & Sir E. Dering ⁴ who sung & some other people. M^rs Ellison told Mama ⁵ she would be a public loss in Brunswick Terrace - it is very pleasant to be regretted. - Yesterday we went to a soirée at Lady Belfast's ⁶ - very amusing indeed & very pretty music. The dear Duke was there, & was so gracious as to talk to me! about Harriet Munday ⁷ who he said was a very nice person & full of information. Addio caro ⁸ - we shall be at Laycock positively Saturday evening. - To-morrow we are going to M^rs Gent's musical party for a finale - & they mean to sing my duet -

Your aff^te sister
Horatia