TALBOT4716

Hôtel Sinet
Rue Faubourg St Honoré
4 Fevrier

My Dear Henry

as I conclude you must come here about your own business, I think you might as well time it so as you to return with me, I intend leaving this the 20^th February & leaving Horatia with her sister ¹ for a little time as Caroline stays till 5^th March. Pray let me know by return of post whether you can do this as I should feel much safer travelling with you, to say nothing of its being more agreeable at the same time tell me whether I should find you & Constance ² at Laycock the months of March & April because I should not like to be there quite alone & I do not intend to go to London till after Easter. Paris does not amuse me much, I suppose my tastes are changed since former days. It is a great waste of time & money. Horatia is flourishing in health & the place agrees with her. It does not with me, & I have not been well at all these last few days. I have got a very clean French Doctor who lived vingt cinq ans en Angleterre, ³ I like him much, but the air of Laycock is my only cure. Pray answer this directly, as I want to know what I can depend on for the Months of March & April. Since the Duc de Bassano ⁴ drew up that Paper, he has seen some of the Kalotypes ⁵ I brought with me, with which he is entousiasmé ⁶ & says he sees what may be exploité ⁷ and that clearly yours are not done by an Artist or by anybody who takes pains about grouping, back grounds &c. He foresees an avenir de célébrité ⁸ for the Art. Since I began this letter the air is darkened with snow, I can hardly see to write & every thing announces a heavy fall - but we must hope it will not last long so late in the year, for it makes every thing odious. Caroline is souffrante, ⁹ she has written to the Queen ¹⁰ to be excused her next waiting, nor do I see much chance of her being able to take one before next July. Valletort ¹¹ is to go home with me, his holidays have been more extended than M^r Atwood ¹² will approve of, but he has not been losing his time absolutely as he learns to draw of a good Master & has a great genius which will be an advantage in future