TALBOT6340

Maison Valin
67 Champs Elysées
July 20^th 1850

My dear Henry

I had better write at once to Lyons as you suggest - for fear you should have left Mont d'Or before my letter can get there; what a short tour you will have made - & what takes you to Lyons I wonder? Milord ¹ got better after your departure - but I cannot consider him as well - for the gouty pains keep perpetually returning - so that one day he is able to drive out, & the next he is very likely confined to his bed - Such was the case yesterday - & is likely to be again today - for the weather is extremely variable & showery; - Last Sunday I drove to S^t. Cloud - & took Ernestine. ² It was a beautiful evening & the wood looked so pretty - There were crowds of people & we saw in the air M. Poitevin with his horse & Balloon, who ascended for the 2^nd time, & came down in safety - & besides that another Balloon that went up from by itself, & threw out a shower of coloured rockets. Another day we went to see l'Ecole de Natation ³ on the river - There were about 40 ladies & children floundering & swimming about, in the most curiously ugly costume - & another day to la Gymnastique w^h amused Baby extremely. Now I have told you all our events, except the principal one - that Charlie ⁴ came home this morning at 8 o'clock, looking uncommonly well, sturdy & sun burnt - but not much grown. The meeting between him & Baby was quite pretty to see. She had been looking forward to it so long, & had been making his room comfortable as well as she could. He crossed over yesterday ev^g - too late to catch the train - they had a rough passage. They slept at Boulogne & set off at 3 this morning. He says that your Charles ⁵ left School the day before he did - i.e. on Wednesday 17^th that he was quite well & had lost his deafness. Charlie is at this moment writing to Aunt Constance. ⁶ Horatia is at Bowood ⁷ with Aunt L.⁸ while M^r G.⁹ is gone to visit at Iford. Addió - please write again -

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline

I am glad you enjoy the scenery of Mont d'Or - & hope the change of air will do you good.