TALBOT2147

Laycock Abbey
11^th March

I shall certainly go mad – No newspaper came to day! in such times as these – what can be the reason? I suspect there was some arrangement about the Times ¹ between you & M^r F. ² and that Franklin ³ has neglected to send it, at least I think that more probable than that the mistake should be with Yarrell & Jones. In either case, pray rectify it. Pour le comble ⁴ it is a rainy day! & we reduced to our ain selves! i.e. us three M^r F. having left us yesterday as I wrote you word, in a letter I hope you have rece^d inclosed [sic] to your neighbour Sir C. ⁵ Now only picture to yourself such a complication of misfortunes in one morning. Take care it comes or we shall say Diem perdidi. ⁶

A piece of the old wall of the Terrace near the Yew tree fell down, owing to the winter’s wet, or rather to the wet of many winters, I spoke to Phelps ⁷ about it that it might be mended before it grows worse, according to the proverb “a stitch in time” &c &c – This is a place where one cannot even borrow a paper upon an emergency, dans les alentours ⁸ nobody takes a daily one even M^r Awdry ⁹ is lent his by M^rs Barnes!!! ¹⁰ Oh Oh

I am certain I should make the best Bailiff Steward &c &c in the [obscured text] nobody ever perceived the break in the wall but me, & would have neglected it till the ruins became more extensive

Henry Fox Talbot Esq^r
31. Sackville Street
London