TALBOT2138

Sackville Street ¹

February 2^d

My dear Henry

We arrived yesterday evening the roads were very bad all the way from Brighton, tho’ there was little snow there & the Sun was shining when we left it. We were at the Pavilion the night before, a pleasant small party to meet the Cabinet Ministers. We mean to be off Saturday if the roads are passable which I should think will be the case as it is now thawing. The servants from Bowood ² who came Tuesday were twenty two hours en route. But now the Snow must be cut through by this time & I dont expect difficulties till we turn out of the great London road. Bowden Hill ³ & no moon!

Nothing can be more comfortless than London in this unsettled state sans ⁴ everything, No piano, no harp, no carriage, & not worth while to make ourselves comfortable unless we were to stay a Month. It would not pay

I have just received a letter from M^rs Napier ⁵ which has followed me from Brighton, she wants to look again at that volume of newspapers of 1809 – & not knowing you are at home does not know how to get at it – Will you look for it & have it done up in brown paper & sent to her. You can easily get a foot messenger to take it. Henry Fitzmaurice ⁶ who is here says the neighborhood has been so gay & M^rs N. has given a ball & another at Sloperton! ⁷ I am glad they égayer les tristesses de l’hyver ⁸. Visits supervene

W^m Henry Fox Talbot Esq^r
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts