TALBOT4383

Sunday 5 Dec^r

My Dear Henry

I enclose Wright’s ¹ measurement & Horatia’s letter ² from Trieste that from Venice shall go afterwards. Pray give the enclosed note to Nicole ³ & tell him to send down the commission as soon as he can.

I have been planting but not so much as I wished because the earth is so saturated with wet that as soon as they dig a hole it fills with water which would decay the roots of any thing planted, but a very few days without rain (if that happens) will correct this. The Arches at Chippenham ⁴ have given way from the quantity of water that has oozed thro’ – M^r Brunel ⁵ paid a visit of two days at Bowood ⁶ & since I have conversed with him I feel much less nervous, at least as far as the Great Western is concerned. I am going to Melbury ⁷ Thursday the 9^th & intend going to see Constance ⁸ from thence, as she tells me she is not thinking of leaving Weymouth so soon as I expected. This house is remarkably comfortable & I enjoy being alone very much tho’ Lady Holland ⁹ will not believe that anybody can. If the weather was better I should be contentissima

Affl^y y^rs

E F

Send me back Horatia’s Letter –

I hope when you return to Weymouth you will stay there long enough to give it a fair chance of doing you good