TALBOT3419

Sackville S^{t 1}
Monday

My dear Henry

Papa ² is going on well, but his progress is very slow, which the doctors say we must expect it will be for some time – He sleeps a great deal which helps to restore his strength, & yesterday he eat [sic] some boiled chicken which seemed to succeed very well – He told me just now to read him the newspaper Caroline ³ expects L^d Valletort ⁴ about the end of this week – & Bimbo ⁵ he has been very busy down there with L^d Eliot’s committee – It seems some of them wanted him to stand for Devonport – which he resisted. Uncle John ⁶ is to come in for Dorset in M^r Ponsonby’s ⁷ place – & Henry ⁸ for Calne ⁹ – Is it true that M^r Neild ¹⁰ is to stand for N. Wiltshire? I pity you for being on the grand Jury but if it is no hotter there than it is here you will not suffer much from that – yesterday it was quite cold & to-day very pleasantly cool Caroline meant to have answered your letter to-day but as she is engaged at the painter’s this morn^g I have written instead – I am glad to hear you think of visiting us again – I hope we shall be less dismal than when you were here last, & more able to enjoy your society Love to Constance –

Y^r aff^te sister
Horatia –

D^r Seymour ¹¹ has taken his leave to-day which is a very good sign – Mama ¹² begs you will not have the lock picked on any account as Uncle Harry ¹³ can do without the map