TALBOT5375

L. Abbey
Sunday 31^st August

My Dear Henry

If the Railroad people ¹ have no sinister intentions why should Sir J. A. desire an interview? & why should they try to circumvent you? Il y a quelque chose de louche là dedans ² – & I wish you would set my mind & nerves at rest by being a little more explanatory. Sir J. A. must have had some motive – have you ever cleared it up? or seen M^r King? ³

Lord M^t Edgcumbe ⁴ has given the most beautiful Fête to L^y Jersey, ⁵ & invited all the aristocracy & beauty & fashion of Devonshire & Cornwall. The Ball was in the Orangerie, & the Sea & Land were all brilliant with fireworks & Yachts illuminated &c &c – Caroline ⁶ danced all Night & Horatia ⁷ appears to have enjoyed herself, & Lady Jersey wrote me a letter full of enchantment with the Place (which she never saw before) & the whole thing. Lord M^t Edgcumbe ordered it & managed it all himself Caroline had nothing to do with it but to enjoy it. I have had a letter this morning from Lady Jersey offering to come here next Friday or Saturday She seems bent upon it. Are you going to Belgium? & what is settled with M^r C. Jones? ⁸ Don’t waste such charming weather within those smoky walls, & pray write if ever so short