TALBOT4723

Lacock
9 Feb^y 1843

My Dear Mother

I shall certainly not be ready even to leave England so soon as the 20^th of this month - Perhaps I must go to Paris to sign the Calotype Treaty, ¹ but I shall not set out until the basis of the treaty is agreed upon - Then I shall probably have to stay 3 weeks in Paris, to set the thing a-going, for I am sure without my personal assistance they will make nothing of it. I cannot tell whether Constance ² will be here in March and April, but she wants change of air and so does Matilda ³ and I think they ought to go to the seaside for a few weeks. Aunt Mary ⁴ is at Bowood ⁵ She looks very well, and is coming here next Saturday for a couple of days. We have lost very few trees in the late severe gales; the winter has been very mild, it is now colder. You heard I suppose of M^r Starkie's ⁶ death, and M^r Lawes ⁷ of Chippenham ⁸ died lately - I am sorry Paris does not amuse you, but at any rate it agrees with Horatia ⁹ very well - I have no time for more today, so adieu.

Your aff^te
Henry

I suppose you call the Duc de Bassano, ¹⁰ whom M^{lle 11} calls the Marquis. If you like to give away all the Calotypes you have with you, I have no objection.

à Miladi
Miladi Feilding
Hotel Sinet
rue Faubourg S. Honoré
Paris