TALBOT2773

Laycock Abbey
29^th Dec^r

My dear Henry

In case you missed my last letter ¹ to Paris, I write to say that the ball at Bowood ² is to be next Thursday the 2^d January. I have little hope that you can arrive in time for it, but it shall not be my fault. Of course you will let me know the moment you know what time day you will get here. They have taken to charge all your Letters but Freeling ³ says you can get back the Money - Mr.F. ⁴ has had a long correspondence with him about it, & it seems they have a right to do so while a Member is known to be abroad, but he can be reimbursed for bonâ fide letters. I believe some of yours are left at the Athenaeum, ⁵ so you had better inquire. I have done nothing about a Maid for Constance ⁶ because I think she had better take her time & please herself, besides here she cannot want one. Ditto for your Valet de Chambre. I suppose you received the letter ⁷ in which I told you we intended going to town early in February & letting the house after Easter but this is all dans le Vague ⁸ as all our schemes generally are, & must be [illegible] & pondered over. We are pullé ⁹ all ways comme j'aurai l'honneur de vous expliquer en terms & bien ¹⁰

Ever aff^tly
EF

I know not where you intend to be in London, as you have never said. for the very short time you will I hope stay there it is scarce worth while to go the expence of having beds & furniture put up There is a new Hotel set up close by, the Old Duchess of Rutland's ¹¹ house, it was finished after you left England.

I did duty for you at the Chippenham ¹² Ball. It was thin & select. I heard that a lady (a neighbour) objected to it as too exclusive. She said it was quite an aristocratic ball, Lady Lansdowne's, ¹³ Ly E Feilding's & Lady Theodosia Hale's ¹⁴ constitute the chief of the Ball

Henry Fox Talbot Esq M. P.
31 Sackville Street
London