TALBOT5477

Laycock Abbey
15^th Dec^r

My Dear Henry

It is not too late because it is tomorrow that M^r Bridges ¹ dines here & to Syria he goes in January.

I suppose tho’ you are so near you have not heard of poor Harriet Gallwey’s ² death, which happened in the night of Saturday. I had a letter from Sir W. ³ this morning to notify the event to this part of the family. She was quite unconscious the last week & did not suffer, but poor Louisa is quite worn out.

Lord Lansdowne ⁴ returned to Bowood ⁵ last night & came here to lunch to day. He was very gay & told us many amusing anecdotes relating to the new Administration, which is hérissée de difficultés ⁶ & he seems to think will never be formed. He goes back to town tomorrow. The excitement seemed to have done him worlds of good. He complains he is never invited here! that is certainly very true.

The Morning Post is frantic. it amused us much.

The Children are getting up a Charade. Valletort & Charlie ⁷ are used to it, but yours had not a notion of such a thing. It is a great pity they cannot be longer together, they would be very well amused.

We have asked M^r Bowerbank ⁸ to accompany his friend M^r Bridges tomorrow. I am glad you say he is agreeable as he is to be our Pastor, & we are to be his Ouaille. the others are Lord Dunkellin & Shelburne. L^y S. ⁹ is ill. You are now au courant ¹⁰ of our proceedings

Ainsi ¹¹

Adieu

[envelope]
H. Fox Talbot Eq^r
31. Sackville Street
London