TALBOT2807

London

12^th Feb. 1834

Dear Constance

Yesterday we had a very pretty debate, ¹ about five hours long – As it was upon six or seven different subjects one after the other, there was not enough of each of them to be tedious – People spoke short speeches & to the point, the house was in very good humour, and altogether there is a great improvement in the style of debate compared with last year. How it will be when the majority of members are come to Town I cannot tell.

Today is a beautiful day, how enjoyable it must be at Lacock –

I am glad to hear that Winifred is gone from Caroline ² & that peace will be restored in her ménage.

Do you recollect when we were at Paris, M. Geoffrey S^t Hilaire ³ the President of the Academy of Sciences in going to view the Obelisk on board the Luxor fell into the river & would have been drowned had he not been rescued by a sailor – The other day the sailor himself fell into the river, & less fortunate than the president found nobody to rescue him, but was drowned –

Last year but one Fitzsimmons ⁴ let all my seeds in the greenhouse perish in the summer for want of water, which makes me mistrust his care in future.

Your aff^te

Henry