TALBOT352

Dover

Friday – July 5

My dear Papa,

Bayer ¹ is arrived, and we are quite prepared to start tomorrow morning should it be fine, as seems likely; as today has been very warm, indeed rather close and thundery, and very calm. It is a great advantage to be able to go straight through to Brussels, and we shall have, he says, an hour and a half to rest at Brussels Calais.

Will you please be sure to send Goodwin ² to this house to enquire if any letters have come for us since our departure, as it is possible Tilly ³ may write again. She gave a better account of Willie ⁴ last time.

The Viceroy of Egypt ⁵ has not yet arrived, which is disappointing, as we expected a fine cannonading from the two ships of war which have been waiting so lazily in front of our windows all the week.

What a horrible thing is the death of poor Maximilian;⁶ it comes more like a shock from having been deferred, and hopes being raised that his life would be saved. I am afraid being held up to public approbrium will have little effect on that villain, Juarez; he ought to be caught and hung.

I suppose we shall not hear from you again till you turn up in Brussels, which but we shall enquire for letters at the Post Office.

your affectionate daughter
Rosamond.

Mama ⁷ & I received your letters this morning.