TALBOT3610

London

Tuesday 31^st Oct.

My Dear Henry

I am troubled in mind that you are not comfortable, as Delorme ¹ went to Brusselles the very day We left Laycock Abbey, pour recueiller une succession, & s’il devient riche adieu la Cuisine. ² This is the first fine day we have had, all the others we have been buried in yellow fog. How chearful & nice the Abbey must look today! Tell me what success you have had in hunting the Bishop in the Dormitory. Before we came away I did the honours of the Antiquities twice to M^r Bowles ³ & parties of friends – celebrated Topographers & Archæologists he said they were, & some of them friends of Sir Richard Hoare. ⁴ Caroline ⁵ went to the Play last night & having got the Queen’s Box, means to go again. Mais tant va la cruche à l’eau qu’enfin elle se brise. ⁶ I am most indignant with the Standard for disputing Kit’s ⁷ descent. What can it mean? The Spectator abuses M^r Nicholl ⁸ for being no cleverer than his Father, ⁹ it would be well for him if was <sic> half as much. Every Man who in England attempts public Life must harden himself not only to abuse but to the most atrocious calumnies. Both parties invent & print lies à qui mieux mieux, ¹⁰ and all the finer sensibilities must be blunted, or ought to be unless a Man is content to be miserable.

Amandier ¹¹ desires to be recalled to your recollection. She had the pleasure of spending one whole foggy morning at the Douane & has at length got all her things, together with deux caisses of our Linen which travelled with us all over the Continent for six years & which therefore I feel a great <illegible> for. I cannot hope thinking you have missed some of our letters in your wanderings

aff^ly y^rs

E F

Caroline says she will write tomorrow

Henry Fox Talbot Esq
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts