TALBOT2221

Sackville Street ¹
August 18^th 1831

My dear Henry

We had a very pleasant expedition yesterday on board the Galatea. ² Our party consisted of Lady Sandwich & Lady Caroline Montague, Ly. Charlotte Butler, ³ M^r et M^eme de Montjoyeux, L^d Grimstone, L^d Mahon, M. de Neumann, Brooke Greville, Captⁿ Hamilton & Captⁿ Mansel. ⁴We sailed down as far as Woolwich, & in that short trajet ⁵ contrived to run aground, to be caught in a tremendous storm of rain, thunder & forked lightning, & very narrowly escaped running on board two peaceable colliers lying at anchor, which little incidents made a pleasing variety, & contributed to enliven our party all the more. The only drawback was that poor Horatia ⁶ had a sore throat & thought it more prudent to stay at home – they all came & drank tea afterwards chez nous, ⁷ & did not break up till midnight, so that Horatia was not in total solitude all day. I am afraid she caught cold at Rose-bank, the coldest place, moralement et physiquement ⁸ that I have been at this year. What a merry party you must have at Cowes! I should like of all things to go there when we leave London, but I do not see any chance of that as yet. Addio, caro fratello, ⁹ let us hear from you soon, & believe me

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline

They say Jane’s nouveau-né ¹⁰ is like me –

Henry Fox Talbot Esq^r
Post Office
Cowes
Isle of Wight