TALBOT4662

Lacock
11 Dec^r 1842

My Dear Mother

I must write a line today, altho’ I have hardly time to do so as it will otherwise perhaps reach Came¹ after your departure and you have given us no intimation where you are going to next – We have also had our share of thick fogs here and raw weather, today is much milder but dark in the morning and rainy in the evening. I propose to come to Melbury ² on the 22^d pray ask my uncle if that would be a convenient time? We think of spending January & February in London to avoid the winter residence here, and also because houses are cheap then, so that one can see one’s friends at half price – We also talk of going to the Rhine in March or April and staying six months in that neighbourhood, altho’ I should want to return to England myself, once or twice during the interval – But all this is a projet dans l’air ³ sent to amuse you as building châteaux en Espagne ⁴ is much cheaper than employing Hopper ⁵ or any other architect, & they are more easily pulled down again – It is wonderful indeed that the news of the Christening should have penetrated into Dorsetshire already – Charley ⁶ is very flourishing and wonderfully strong, his delight is in beating the table – Tell me what has become of William? ⁷ Is he at Came also, or at Moreton ⁸ or where?

Your aff^te
Henry

Lady E. Feilding
Came House
Dorchester