TALBOT2539

Lacock Abbey.
Thursday

My dear Henry –

Though I am to see you so soon, & though you are I think well aware of what my Feeling for you must be at this moment – I cannot keep writing to you one line of renewed congratulations, now that you really are married – to your Wife ¹ too, I would say every thing most affectionate, but as I could say nothing so persuasively as you would express it – I shall make you my Ambassador. Tell her then how prepared I am to love her – & how earnestly I hope to make her love me. I have little doubt of my doing the one – for the other, you must assert me with your good word & on my Part no effort shall be wanting –

Horatia ² & I arrived last Night expecting to find your Mother ³ – <she> ⁴ will not however [illegible deletion] be here till dinner time today – Her letter [text missing] Maidenhead where she [text missing] last Night – The Baby was better. The Delay in her arriving, & some Bother about servants make me glad you have put off your [illegible deletion] Journey till Saturday, by which Time, we shall be quite ready for you – & most happy to receive you – The News from America which I heard today at Bowood ⁵ is most important, being necessarily attended, whatever may be the result to the Integrity of the Union, with great advantages to England, & also I believe to the U-S themselves – ⁶

Y^r ever aff Friend
Charles Feilding

[envelope]
H. Fox Talbot Esq^r.
Marquis of Lansdownes
Richmond
Surrey

[note added to back of address panel:]
¹/₂ past 5 Ils viennent d'arriver - l'enfant mieux⁷

Y^r