TALBOT245

Paris
24 Jan^y

My Dear Henry

We are rejoiced to hear you are really coming the beginning of Feb^y – you will see M^r F. ¹ in London who will tell you all our news.

Baptiste ² has sold himself for three years to Madame de Segur, who advanced 70 Napoleons to pay for his substitute. Horatia ³ is much better than when I wrote last & Caroline’s ⁴ birthday was celebrated in the domestic circle & I believe she passed a happy day tho’ she would have preferred giving a dance, & she thinks with pleasure of Rome where for the last time her birthday was so celebrated. She appears to conclude that every step northward is so far a retreat from gaiety. the sombre weather add to this conviction, the sun seldom shines & all the French call it English weather, while Charlotte ⁵ writes such accounts of Jonquils Orange flowers, Tuberoses &c There are a good many balls just now going on, but the Carnival will be soon over. We shall be in London I think the end of April if the house is not let, M^r F. will tell you all our pros & cons about it

God bless you

We are much shocked at the death of Lord Thanet ⁶ having seen him well & gay so lately, well he was not but appeared so

W. H. F. Talbot Esq^r
31. Sackville Street