TALBOT5470

London

13 Dec^r 1845

My Dear Mother

Just at present it would be an inopportune moment to send the pictures; the Queen ¹ is so occupied with politics – Besides I expect Nicole ² will make better copies – Suppose you ask Constance ³ to varnish those Caroline ⁴ likes best, and mount them, and see how they look then.

We partly sanctioned that miniature painter in colouring the Prince of Wales, ⁵ since we returned it to him to be finished, & therefore I think we must some of us buy it, or return it. The price is two guineas –

I am glad you are going to have a spread. Your party ⁶ sounds pleasant – I wonder what L^d Lansdowne ⁷ will say to M^r Sotheron ⁸ about the all engrossing subject of politics – Peel ⁹ is the most amusing statesman I know of: his career is quite delightful. One of the two gents who saw the Cloisters is I understand our future Clergyman M^r Bowerbank; at least I hear the Bp of Gloucester ¹⁰ has appointed him, & that he is an agreeable person.

If M^r Bridges ¹¹ is going to Syria immediately, nothing can be done for him in the way of photographic instruction but if he is going to stay a month longer in England I should have no objection to Nicole’s teaching him the art, if he will promise us in return some good Syrian views, especially Jerusalem –

I shall not return to Lacock yet awhile, so you need not disturb the maids at their Confessions.

Yours aff^ly

Henry