TALBOT6334

Stewarts Hotel
Dover S^t
Monday

My dear Henry

We sent to Cox’s Hotel to enquire for you but were disappointed at finding you were already flown back to the Lakes – I hope you are all enjoying yourselves there – from Amandier’s ¹ account it must be delightful. We left Caroline ² settled in a house called Maison Valin in the Avenue des Champs Elysées – a long way from the habitable part of Paris but quiet & looking over green trees & gardens. L^d M^t E. ³ had begun the medicated baths under D^r Trousseau, & felt already a little better – tho’ he seemed to me hardly in a state to begin them having scarcely recovered his last attack. Certainly their going abroad this time has not been of any advantage. They have taken this house for a month or 6 weeks according as the baths agree with him. We left Paris Thursday & got to Folkestone at 8 – a most beautiful passage quite smooth. Tom ⁴ went off by early express to look for lodgings & met us at the Station – it was lucky for all the Hotels are so full he had to go to at least a dozen – We have very comfortable rooms here – it is Lady Sandwich’s ⁵ old house next door to Russian Embassy [sic] – Aunt L. ⁶ is at Bowood ⁷ & going on well. M^rs Osman Ricardo ⁸ is with her now – & L^y Morley ⁹ going there – Uncle Harry ¹⁰ is at Southampton with the Gallweys¹¹ but returns today. I went Saturday to see the Hippopotamus at the Zoo. You never saw such a crowd squeezing to get a sight of that ugly creature – just like a huge Indian rubber pig! – The weather is intensely hot – but the air so smoky & thick after Paris – Addio tell A. I have done her commissions & hoped to have sent them by you. Love to all

Y^r aff sister
Horatia

They say Ministers will have a good majority tonight.