TALBOT2295

Moreton ¹
January 1^st 1832

My dear Henry

You have not written me a word for a l long time - I want to hear what you are about at Laycock; the only thing I have heard of was from M^r Seymer, ² who described to me a large tree you had just transplanted in front of the house, & the exact spot - I wish you would put some where I advised you near the canal bridge, just on the rise of the hill - only I think a young plantation would, perhaps suit that place better. - I wrote Horatia ³ a description of the Christmas festivities, which I suppose you heard from her, & in return I want an account of the Bowood ⁴ ball, & from you a description of the one at Chippenham; ⁵ I hoped you did the civil thing by all your constituents, & danced with all the young ladies, whether pretty or otherwise. -

I had a very pleasant expedition to Lulworth Cove ⁶ the other day, & another to the burning Cliff ⁷ 7 miles off; we rode down on the beach close to it; we were not lucky enough to see any flame, but a good deal of smoke & a very disagreeable smell was were emitted from various crevices in the rock; we brought away a specimen for the museum; the bay where it is situated is extremely pretty, quiet & sheltered by a very high, precipitous cliff - the sea was blue & unruffled. - I wrote to Mamma ⁸ yesterday, with a message to you, which I now renew en personne, ⁹ wishing you a very happy new year & many of them - Fais aussi mes complimens de nouvelle année à M^r Montgomerie que j'avais oublié dans ma dernière. ¹⁰

Addio fratello carissimo ¹¹
Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline Valletort

I am afraid I shall miss seeing Sir Charles ¹² - give him my love & tell him how sorry [I am]¹³ -

Dorchester Jan^y two 1832 Valletort ¹⁴
Henry Talbot Esq^r
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham