TALBOT5485

Laycock Abbey
19^th December

My Dear Henry

Caroline ¹ left this very much puzzled what to do about the P. of Wales. ² Had it been like she would have had no hesitation in buying it, & yet she thinks the Man ought not to be allowed to keep it, & that it was a great indiscretion in Nicole ³ to put it into his hands. But the worst of it is that you have no hold upon Nicole at that distance, you cannot know who he gives them to, & if he is sermonized upon this impropriety the next time he will do just the same, & Only take care to say nothing about it.

Caroline thinks the Queen ⁴ would like some taken larger perhaps as large as the Camera can. It will be some time probably before the Q. can be at leisure for les beaux Arts, ⁵ & I am glad of that, as it will give you more time. If fortunately the likeness had been preserved the Queen would have been delighted to see what could be done with the Art & what a lovely little coloured miniature she would have had, or might. Caroline selected 4 of yours she thought like but did not take them with her, as you said you would do others. To day we are going to dine with the Sotherons ⁶ to meet M^{r 7} & Lady Charlotte Watson Taylor, & tomorrow the Children are invited to spend the Morning & dine with Mary Fitzmaurice ⁸ How very dissipated we are! I am sorry our bright Moonlights are at an end, we shall find it very dark this Evening in Bowden wood

Aff^ly y^rs
E F

What did you about my Malta letter? ⁹

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