TALBOT3090

Nice
Friday May 22^nd 1835

My dear Henry

Thank you for having answered so expeditiously – I received your letter yesterday & am very glad to hear that Constance ¹ is so much better but I am afraid she must have been very ill, by what I can gather from your slight hints – I am charmed by your account of Ela ² & long very much to see her but cela ne sera pas ³ [illegible]. We have definitely made up our mind to stay here & glad enough I am that something should be settled at last. In fact we could not have set out for L^d V ⁴ only went out two days ago for the first time since the 4^th March – & was obliged to be carried down stairs & lifted into the carriage – Even today he can but just stand with crutches – Luckily we have a very nice & airy apartment, looking on one side to the Place S^t Dominique & on the other to the Corso, & till now have had nothing like hot weather –

Mamma ⁵ & C^o went on an excursion to Genoa by the Corniche last Tuesday – they intend being absent only a fortnight, & then all return again to the Maison Pierlas, which they keep on till 14^th June – Beyond that I am not certain as to their movements, except that Mamma will be with me here in August, while Papa, Horatia ⁶ & perhaps [illegible] go again to the Bains d’Aix so continue directing all your letters here till further notice–. Bimbo ⁷ is immensely grown & talks both French & English at a great rate.

He never confuses them but invariably speaks French to the foreign servants & English to his nurse, & even explains to her in English when she does not understand them –

Pray do write to me again soon – I am very anxious to hear of Constance’s recovery

London does not seem to be very gay this year – nothing but politics – Have you read M^r Moore’s Ireland? ⁸ –

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline

I suppose by this time M^rs Wilkes ⁹ must have received the letter I sent a few days ago, putting her off – will you enquire if she got it – I am sorry to lose the attendance of such a charming person as she seems to be but it is such a long journey that I decided to do without her –
The Orange flowers & Roses are in full bloom –

Angleterre
W. H. Fox Talbot Esq^r
31 Sackville Street
London