TALBOT4726

Hôtel Sinet
Rue Faubourg S^t Honoré
11 Febrier 1843

My Dearest Henry

I hope you will not take much longer to deliberate peur d'être dévancé. ¹ It seems this M. Bayard ² has not taken his invention from yours & he takes extreme pains to bring it to perfection, in which he has hitherto signally failed, mais il n'est pas decouragé ³ and le Marquis de Bassano ⁴ (cadet du Duc) is in a great fright about it. What a pity you could not come now & so go back comfortably with me! They want to organise this scheme before the bright weather which always comes in March & even earlier in the South where they intend to exploiter & have toute la belle saison ⁵ before them. I have made the acquaintance of Amandier's Brother, ⁶ who seems intelligent & pleasing, doux & honnête. ⁷ He has been round the world & knows a good deal of all countries. The original fire he had in his composition seems quenched by experience & disappointment. He is going again to America soon. I don't know how many languages he speaks. I really wish you would bring this business to bear, & strike while the iron is hot, for if once M. Bayard succeeds yours will diminish in value, & there is at this moment an enthusiasm for Talbotype ⁸ which may subside, particularly in such a volatile country as this - "There is a tide in the affairs of Men" &c &c I have never seen before so good a chance for your fame, don't let it slip thro' your fingers. The People here are not so slow at coming to conclusions as in our phlegmatic country - and they wish to have everything done in a regular business like manner. Horatia ⁹ consented to remain here with Caroline ¹⁰ if you came to take care of me back. I am afraid now I shall hardly persuade her, & I wish to do so because certainly this place does agree with her. as our tastes & our constitutions are totally opposite, it is a pity we should not each do what suits us best, particularly as there is an opportunity of her remaining here with her sister which may not occur again.

aff^ly y^rs