TALBOT407

London
6 Oct^r

My dear Henry

I suppose you can not be at the Athenæum ¹ at this time of year so I direct boldly to Lacock, tho your actual habitat is very probably inter sphagna ² or in [illegible word] montium Cumbricorum or Cambricorum ³ evidently so named after one people, whose remnant may possibly exist in the Manx –We made a short but hot tour in Switzerland ⁴ & did not attempt any alpine excursions, but I saw much that was new – Zurich, Basle Lucerne, I had never seen before, & I think even the Lowlands of Switzerland as they may be called, a very pretty country – I found a very intelligent guide in D^r Keller of Zurich ⁵ – who shewed me the curiosities of the town – the old plate is remarkable –

Coming home we took the line by Langres & Troyes, crossing I believe a favourite country of yours, for its bleak & meagre character – bad travelling on that route – the railway will be a blessing – The stained glass at Troyes is very fine.

But I meant to tell you I brought some little French cadeaux ⁶ for the ladies of your family ( y comprise ⁷ M^lle Amelina ⁸) which are in a packet in Burlⁿ S^{t 9} – to be called for – directed to M^rs Talbot. ¹⁰

Jane ¹¹ writes they are to go to Nice the end of the month I shall not see them I fear. Have the Talbots got an Earl of Shrewsbury ¹² yet to head their noble house? The house material in the mean time having been stripped & spoiled.

Our grapes at Abbotsbury ¹³ are as large & as fine as in France & perfectly ripened – not against a wall but a reed fence – cucumbers also, sown in the open ground, & trained on espaliers, figs as usual in profusion –

Y^r aff
W F S