TALBOT3169

Lacock
26^th November 1835

My Dear Mother

Snow ¹ in the streets of Milan and Genoa in the beginning of November! We have not had a particle here! The weather is very mild and open. Caroline came yesterday and was much touchée ² at finding herself again within the walls of the old abbey – I like Bimbo ³ very much, he has made acquaintance with Ela ⁴ and already seems to consider himself at home here. Yesterday was the Devizes Election which only lasted one day, (according to the act passed last Session) at the close the numbers were for Estcourt ⁵ 157, for Dundas ⁶ 145. – I have withdrawn myself from politics for the present, as they consume an unconscionable quantity of time, and I cannot side with either party at present, as my opinion lies between them.

I am very much occupied at present in writing mathematical papers, which require a great deal of time – We expect the Moore’s ⁷ [sic] to dinner today – we have dined once at Bowood ⁸ since they returned – Yesterday the first Election of Guardians for the Parish took place under the new Poor Law, when after much deprecation of the honour by everybody, farmer Fry and farmer Orchard were declared duly elected. It is an office that confers considerable power and authority, and those who are fond of professing that, will do well to be candidates – For it enables the holder of it to give or refuse relief to any family, the weight of his vote and recommendation being almost decisive of the question in so small an assembly as the Board of Guardians (50 or 60 for the whole union) –

We have called on the Rookes ⁹ & they on us, without our having yet met our feathered neighbours – I am afraid the journey thro’ France will be too difficult for you, without M^r F’s ¹⁰ company. The trouble is great, of bad roads and continual stoppage for want of horses – often half the day – La Poste est très mal montée ¹¹ – Besides if you have no Courier, other travellers will easily obtain horses in preference to you, by dint of bribery – that is a common trick, and expands the ten days journey to Paris into fifteen or more. – I had a scene with a courier on this account last time I went that way, but finding that my rival candidates for Post Horses were Lord & Lady Jersey, ¹² I suffered them to proceed after obtaining from the maitre de poste ¹³ a full recognition of my rights. Caroline ¹⁴ met with infinite troubles on the same road lately. I hope that the cool weather which has been so beneficial to you will continue. For my part I should like exceedingly to be at Nice for a month or two – Invite Horatia ¹⁵ to write to me sometimes – Fitz. ¹⁶ is not gone yet, and I daresay will stay a month or two later.

Poor Betty Vickery’s ¹⁷ brothers & sister are disputing about her little inheritance – I have put the matter into the hands of M^r West Awdry ¹⁸ who I think has a clear head, and will see justice done to each claimant. Our poor’s rates are diminishing, but I doubt whether our being incorporated with a large Union, will not be injurious –

Yours aff^tly
Henry

Miladi
Miladi Feilding

Poste Restante
Nice
par Antibes
France