TALBOT5472

Sunday

My Dear Henry

Lord L. ¹ could not come yesterday as Lord John ² had sent for him to London to help to concert the new Administration but none of the others failed, & we asked Lord Dunkellin ³ instead, so we had our full complement. The Hall looked grandiose with a feudal fire, to receive Lady Shelburne ⁴ for the first time she has ever been here after dark. The whole house was beautifully lit, & with two fires in the South Gallery looked & felt as warm & as gay as possible. After conversation & Music, we ended with a tour de walse, Flora & Annie & Caroline ⁵ with the three young Lords. We are to have a smaller spread on Tuesday M^r Bridges, Shelburnes & Lord Dunkellin, & perhaps Lord Moreton. M^r Sotheron ⁶ was in great admiration of the Talbotypes ⁷ Caroline shewed him (the mounted ones you gave her) He talked quite affectionately of you & former days at Harrow. ⁸ Upon that same foundation of Harrow he made an alliance with Valletort ⁹ who shewed him his prize Suetonius, & they talked over the school. M^r Sotheron is not a violent tory, I always thought him a calm Politician, but he thinks the Corn Laws a necessary evil. I think that as the Queen ¹⁰ with [sic] have [illegible deletion] plenty of things to employ her thoughts for some time it would do very well if Caroline takes these specimens to her when she goes into Waiting in February. She thinks the Artist at Reading should not be allowed to retain the Drawing. It is lèze majesté. We have very bad accounts to day of poor Harriet Gallwey ¹¹

Aff^ly y^rs
E F