TALBOT3157

Lacock
29^th Oct. 1835

My Dear Mother

You know the nature of a November journey thro’ France so well, that it is not necessary for me to discuss the pour and the contre ¹ – The greatest source of uneasiness to my mind is Gwynne ² who may be taken ill at some poor inn at Orgon, Avallon, or Saulieu; and then what are you to do? We have not formed any plan for the winter, tho’ we have talked of moving to the seaside because Lacock is so wet & damp – The Devonshire coast seems the most inviting, Sidmouth, Exmouth or Torquay – I suppose you would have no objection to any of those places for a short time. The air of Wiltshire however agrees wonderfully with Ela ³ who is in great health and beauty and very fat. She has just been with me in high good humour & set up a shout when your name was mentioned. Constance ⁴ is very anxious you should set out immed^ly but as I take a graver view of the difficulties of such a journey, I shall refrain from advising you either way – I am sorry you should leave such a charming place as Nice with altered feelings towards it, it is like quarrelling with an early friend. I wish I was there for a month, but the Gods who created Time & Space will not allow it. We have been calling at Lackham and Corsham, which has only left me time for a short letter. The rooks [sic] ⁵ have taken possession of Lackham,⁶ but I think at a wrong time of year; – May is the month for entering a new house, not October, with a furious wind blowing thro’ the openings where doors are hereafter to be placed. – The Comet ⁷ is going away fast, we had a poor view of him, the dismal cloudy weather set in just at the critical moment when he passed nearest us – What a splendid show he must have made in the serene skies of Nice!

We talk of spending next winter at Naples or Madeira: next to visiting pretty places, talking of doing so is a satisfaction. The post departing prematurely, as usual, puts a stop to the reflexions which otherwise might have flowed from my pen – Sir F. Freeling ⁸ the Secretary of the Post office is dying they say, otherwise I think I should write to him to complain that the post goes earlier every day, and earliest on those days when I have most to say. Give my love to Horatia ⁹ & Mr F. and pray why was poor San Quintino ¹⁰ destitué ¹¹ . . . too Liberal? –

Your aff^te

Henry

Miladi
Miladi Feilding

Poste Restante
Nice
par Antibes
France