TALBOT2556

Bowood ¹
Thursday 19^th

My dear Henry,

I was very much pleased with your long letter ² from Lyons after the long silence you all preserved, till at last we could not think what had befallen you. I think you were quite right to shew Constance ³ Marseilles & Toulon, instead of coming the humdrum way. I hope you have taken her to see la révolte au sérail ⁴ which I see such fine accounts of in the papers. I am afraid your homeward journey has been a very cold one & will be still more so in this unpropitious season. Here we have had no frosts but very stormy weather, & at this moment it is blowing uncommonly hard at S.W. I hope before you cross it will have subsided, but I am in great trouble for the poor Gallways, ⁵ who are at this moment at Sea between Waterford & Bristol in their way to Laycock, where they hope to arrive tomorrow, wind & weather permitting. We came here yesterday to meet Lord & Lady Barrington, ⁶ who are staying here & Sir John Hippisley – Lord Auckland & Miss Eden ⁷ are coming tomorrow – Kerry ⁸ is grown unusually thoughtful & taciturn, I suppose he is musing upon his love – I cannot yet fancy him in the dignified character of a married man. – I have got your money for the District Society carefully locked up against your return, as according to the new regulations each visitor is to distribute the things among the people & Fitzsimmons ⁹ could not be expected to go the [sic] shops & chuse calico for them – & perhaps Constance may like to do it when she comes. – Will you bring me the Operas of Apostolo Zeno, ¹⁰ if you can find them cheap, for I have asked for them in vain in London – even Bodwell failed in getting them. I was rather disappointed at your not being home for Christmas – & the Chippenham Ball!!! however perhaps there will be another & you & your sposi must do double duty at that instead – Adieu give her my best love & also to Amandier ¹¹

Your affte sister Horatia

Lady Catherine Grimston ¹² was married yesterday to M^r Barham. ¹³ Poverina!.. ¹⁴

Monsieur
Monsieur Fox Talbot