TALBOT5495

[fragment?]

Tuesday Dec^r 30^th

My dear Henry

The Waiter proved himself worthy of the trust you did not repose in him – for your letter of Sunday ¹ reached me in due course this morning – so I wish you had thought it worth-while to write me a little news by the same – We are now all impatience to hear your plans – for Lady Elisabeth ² keeps to her intention of leaving Lacock on the 8^th intending to pay a visit at Broadlands ³ on her way to Brighton – where she will arrive about the 15^th or 18^th As she has written to Miss Gent about houses she waits to know your decision before she commissions her to engage one positively – for on that depends whether it must be a large or a small one – There will be great choice of both at that time – as the place empties & houses fall in price after the 15 Jan – It is uncommonly tantalizing to hear of your being at Reading today & all tomorrow & going back to London on New Year’s day! – instead of paying us a little visit – however if you did come you wouldn’t see much of any one but me – as Horatia ⁴ goes back to Bowood ⁵ tomorrow & Lady Elis^th on Friday for one night after Mrs Heneage’s ⁶ ball. On Saturday our children are invited to the Christening of little Kenneth Howard ⁷ & to dine with Mary ⁸ afterwards – Mary herself will not be able to come to us before twelfth day or the following day – Such are the engagements & merry-makings at Bowood – Whether it be Tuesday or Wednesday we intend to make a great day of it – keeping it as New Year’s day & twelfth day all in one – And Lady E. & Hor will be at home (they come home on Saturday) – so I do wish you could contrive to be at home too. It is not fair to absent yourself from us throughout Xmas! – If you agree to it I will keep your present to Ela ⁹ for that day – as it will perhaps help to adorn our Tree – for which we are all busily stitching – And may your French Bonbons (of which I have the care) be distributed on this occasion? – Lady Elis^th wished me to take them – but I could not venture without asking whether you liked it – Lady E. says, if you don’t come here in time to see her, she shall see you in Sackville St. ¹⁰ as she must go through London–

I forward a railway paper by this Post to Reading so you must please to enquire for it –

It was left for you today. –

[unsigned? - incomplete?]

[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
Post Office
Reading