TALBOT2436

Melbury ¹
Monday 15^th

My dear Henry

Here we are at Melbury, that is Papa ² & I, having arrived here Saturday – We left Mama, Caroline & Amandier ³ just getting into their carriage to go to Speenhill, where they were to sleep & go on to London yesterday. Caroline was looking very well indeed, quite blooming, & I hope the journey will do her any harm[sic] – but I cannot hear till tomorrow which is provoking. We found here Sir C. Aunt Mary, & Mary & Emma – the Belmores ⁴ are expected tomorrow – Edward Strangways came yesterday – he is quite altered & grown wonderfully demure

It is very unlucky the Gallways ⁵ are just leaving Dorsetshire when we are coming & we shall just miss them. This place is looking beautiful with the autumn tints on the trees – yesterday we took a long walk in the woods, which were somewhat wet, but very pretty – I do not know whether you are wandering still among waterfalls with hard names, or among cotton maufactories, but according to your last directions I will send this au hasard ⁶ to Manchester.

My cousins say it is very wrong of you to go to Wales when they are not there but they hope it will hinder your paying them a visit when they are at home [sic] – So it seems we are going to war with Holland at last in good earnest j’espère que nous le mettrons bien à la raison ⁷ – I have got a horse which seems very quiet & safe from Hayward–⁸ I rode him several times at Lacock & liked him very much so I brought him here where I hope he will succeed as well.

Addio caro ⁹
Your aff^te Sister
Horatia

Uncle Harry ¹⁰ sends you the enclosed with his complements it is very curious.

Dorchester, Oct^r fifteen, Ilchester
H. F. Talbot Esq^re
Post Office
[illegible deletion]
Manchester
Markeaton
Derby