TALBOT5521

Laycock Abbey
2^d January 1846

My Dear Henry

I wish I knew your intentions, because of course it makes a great difference in my pleasure going to Brighton with you or by ourselves. In the month of November you went quite into a way because you thought & accused me of having given up the scheme which I really never had, only wished it deferred. I shall be in town the 9^th in my way to Broadlands, as I have not my carriage here, I cannot go across the Country. Horatia ¹ is at Bowood, ² they have had par extraordinaire a very pleasant Party. I suppose you know the great event viz: that Constance ³ is going with me to night to M^rs Heneage’s ⁴ Ball where we shall meet Horatia & a large party from Bowood, and tomorrow the christening of the new offset of the House of Howard. ⁵ I am Godmother, & Constance assists at the beau Spectacle. ⁶ I hope you will try the new Paper from Paris, ⁷ I am very curious to know if you think it as much better as M^r Calvert Jones ⁸ seems to do.

Constance is extremely busy preparing the Bohemian Xmas Tree. It is made from Caroline’s ⁹ description of those she saw in Germany

aff^ly y^rs
E F

They were very much puzzled at Bowood by Macaulay’s ¹⁰ Letter – It seemed not intended for publication by internal evidence & yet he could not mean to write anything confidential to a Chamber of Commerce!! However he is coming there to day, so I suppose it will be explained. When I was at Bowood last week, M^r Ellice ( Lord Grey’s ¹¹ Uncle) came there, & it amused me much to see the resentment of some Whigs, because Lord Grey had dashed the cup from their lips. Lord L. ¹² is decidedly glad to be out of the scrape & Louisa ¹³ overjoyed that he is so.

Why Lord John ¹⁴ thought Lord John Grey ¹⁵ of such consequence I cannot imagine. He is certainly a clever man but not indispensible [sic]. I am so glad Nicole ¹⁶ has succeeded at last with the Prince of Wales! ¹⁷ Caroline goes into waiting in February, but it only lasts a fortnight, so she must make the most of her opportunities auprès de sa majesté ¹⁸

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