TALBOT5347

Liverpool
Sunday 3^d August 1845

My Dear Mother

The bad weather has prevented me from making any views; except at York. M^r C. Jones ¹ assisted me for one day, & was then summoned away to Swansea by the illness of a relation. Had he been able to remain however the extreme wetness of the weather would have prevented our doing anything memorable.

He wants to go to Venice and make pictures there: if any spirited publisher would defray the expense of the journey. ²

I have visited Durham & Richmond. A distant view of Aske Hall, L^d Zetland’s seat, ³ struck me very much - it is far grander than my recollection - I mean the scenery and situation. To be sure I saw it before, I think in November.

I went to see two unfashionable spas or watering places on the river Tees, Croft & Dinsdale - There are pleasant walks there.

Yesterday I came through the great manufacturing district of the West Riding of Yorkshire by Wakefield Huddersfield Halifax Todmorden Rochdale Middleton & Manchester. a boldly constructed railway passes thro’ this district, which is a succession of mountain valleys of much natural beauty. At Middleton I looked out for Hopwood Hall⁴ without seeing anything which answered to my notion of it.

Yours aff^ly
Henry

Direct post office Clifton- I am going homeward as soon as I can.