TALBOT2503

Saturday 8 Dec^r

My dear Henry

The said Charles John Pope ¹ is about the middle size with a very tanned face & a mouth going in from want of teeth, age about 60, I should think. Says he lives in Bridge Street Chippenham, ² & that his wife has a small property in Kent, which had taken him thro’ London. I am quite ashamed of having been so taken in, it is as bad as Gwynne’s ³ uncle!! with the wooden leg!!! I am quite grieved that it is all owing to my unwittingly pinning my faith on what Lord Lansdowne ⁴ said, that all this contre tems ⁵ has happened, Caroline’s ⁶ disapp^t – Horatias ⁷ & yours!! The Xtening ⁸ is finally fixed for next Saturday the fifteenth so pray be here. I have seen Constance ⁹ again, & took her to be introduced to Matilda & Augusta ¹⁰ who were quite enchanted with her – & thought her lovely. We wrote to urge M^r F. ¹¹ to go to day to you but I fear it was too late. I shall never get really acquainted with Constance while she is under her Mother’s ¹² wing but when we have her at Laycock en famille ¹³ I do not think she will be so silent. Perhaps she is afraid of M^rs M.

aff^ly yours
EF

I wish I was with you

You will not wish to be in the next parliament

Henry Fox Talbot Esq^r
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts