TALBOT2140

London
4^th February

My dear Henry

What M^r F. ¹ mentioned in his letter yesterday as told him by M^r Hay, ² is it seems a profound secret, Lord L. ³ told him this morning he begged it not to be mentioned, for if it is, it will be written down by Cobbett ⁴ &c &c before it is matured into an act of Parliament. I am most anxious it should succeed, & therefore lose no time in warning you. There are to be 4 parties four following Wednesdays at Lansdowne House, ⁵ & they want to persuade us to stay, but M^r F. declares he will change his plans no more. Louisa ⁶ tells me the building is beautiful, but she thinks Strong ⁷ the Slowest of Snails. She says it is astonishing how piano are his movements & that you should consider that his interest & yours (in point of time) are at direct variance. She has alarmed Me by saying the Gallery will not be habitable before the summer of 1832!!! Pray order the Tapestry dressing room to be got ready for M^r M. ⁸ he will go down on Monday too - He is at present staying with his eldest brother at Richmond.

We were last night at a party given by the Master of the Rolls, ⁹ The Prince of Orange ¹⁰ was <there> ¹¹ & played at petits jeux ¹² - I cannot say they were jeux d'esprit. ¹³ He loses a crown most gaily.¹⁴ The night before we left Brighton we were at a small party at the Pavilion I thought it very pleasant

Henry Fox Talbot Esq^r
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts