TALBOT2740

Laycock Abbey
Thursday 5^th

My dear Henry

I thought I should have died of envy on hearing you were actually going to Sicily – to think that we should have been so near it & not have gone there! & now we shall probably never be as near it again, for tho’ Papa ¹ talks positively of going abroad next year, he will not hear of going south of Varese ² or somewhere thereabouts where we might meet Caroline ³ for the summer. I thought you & Emma ⁴ could not fail of meeting somewhere – did she shew you her sketches? I hear she has made quantities – Kit ⁵ sailed about ten days ago from Cowes, I am afraid he encountered this terrible gale in the Bay of Biscay There have been a great many shipwrecks on the coasts & innumerable trees blown down on shore – indeed there has not been such a hurricane since 1816.⁶ Madame Money,⁷ who is just arrived at Whetham was 40 hours at sea in the middle of it & in very great danger, she was coming from Havre to Southampton but instead of that got to Dover. We dined at Bowood ⁸ yesterday – they are going to Ireland Monday for a month, to Louisa’s ⁹ great delight. Kerry & M^r Colville are at Christiania,¹⁰ & Henry & M^r Guthrie ¹¹ at Vienna. Papa is not come down yet, & does not know when he will. He is still in London, but will perhaps have to go to Rutlandshire about his house.¹² M^r Bowles is very busy writing the History of Lacock,¹³ M^rs B. says she never knew him so interested about any of his works. He has discovered a very interesting story of Ela ¹⁴ in her youth, & several curious things in the Records of Salisbury Cathedral. I am sure it will be very entertaining. Pray do not forget in all your roamings, to let us know where to direct – that is if you wish for any more letters. I should so like very much to hear from Constance, ¹⁵ she has not yet told me a word about all she has seen except one letter from Paris – Pray tell her so with my love, & let us know how you all are & where have been [sic]. Mama ¹⁶ is very anxious to hear from you she has not written lately because she has nothing to say, as we are going on in the old humdrum way – but you have plenty to tell her. Addio caro ¹⁷

Y^r aff^te Sister
Horatia

I suppose you know that we have recognized the Queen of Portugal ¹⁸ – she is arrived at Havre on the way to her Kingdom, & it is reported that she will come here in her way

Monsieur
Monsieur Fox Talbot

Poste Restante
Lugano
en Suisse
Switzerland