TALBOT3049

Nice
Sunday 15^th Feb.^y

My dear Henry,

I have not had a line from you for an age, pray write & tell me what you think of the aspect of affairs – for my part I do not know what to make of it all – I suppose you are now at Markeaton, ¹ but as I do not know how long you mean to stay there I may as well send this to Sackville S^{t 2} – I am very glad you have making [sic] yourself popular among y^r neighbours by attending quarter sessions ³ & justice meetings & Devizes balls. I am grieved however to hear that the poor Provident District Society is to be done away with – I had a misgiving when I left Laycock that it would not long outlive me – as I saw so many were set against it, & I really think it a pity for it did the people good & at any rate they thought it did which is nearly the same thing – & making it into a mere charitable society for giving away blankets is what we are always told is such a bad thing & contrary to political economy. – This has been an unusually cold winter for Nice, but still very bright & fine I have seen Anemone hortensis ⁴ in flower some time ago – whenever I see any pretty or rare looking flowers it instantly brings you to my mind – We make a party the other day to M^r André which put me in mind of former times, particularly the narrow brize[?] with a magnificent ilex ⁵ which I remembered perfectly. We all scrambled about the rocks & then had a cold collation in the deserted château, which has not been visited by its owners for 40 years, tho’ it is in such a picturesque spot, I cannot imagine anybody preferring Turin all the year round. William Ashley ⁶ & his wife were here for a day in their way home to his duties as Chamberlain – it was a pity they could not stay, as our society is so very small that any addition would be desirable, & particularly such a handsome one. They told us that Princess Talbot’s marriage ⁷ is broken off after all, in consequence of the King of Saxony ⁸ refusing his consent, & Lady Shrewsbury ⁹ is furious about it, & pretends that it was she herself who made objections to her daughters living so much abroad. It seems she has made herself very ridiculous at Rome & there are end^s stories about her. – Caroline ¹⁰ sends you her love, she was just on the brink of writing to you – Papa ¹¹ is expecting an answer to his letter to you – Mama ¹² has taken to riding lately which is an excellent thing for her & we have an admirably safe & quiet poney – Addio fratello caro, ¹³ pray write me all the news you can scrape together, give my love to Constance, ¹⁴ I did not write to her today because Mama means to answer her letter –

Y^r aff^te sister Horatia–

W. Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
31 Sackville street
London
Lacock Abbey Chippenham
Angleterre