TALBOT6733

Mount Edgcumbe ¹
Feb^y 16^th 1853

My dear Henry

I have been so busy the last few days that I have not yet been able to thank you for your kind letter from Basingstoke - But I must seize a moment before the Post goes out, to do so, & to say how much pleasure your good opinion of L^d M^t E's letter to the Times, ² gave us both, What you say of his energy of mind is indeed surprising, if you knew how much he suffers bodily. With respect to the query in your second letter, your friend was right - It sh^d have been "no spark of enmity" I agree with him - I believe & the Emperor ³ is indifferent personally - but w^d have not a moment's hesitation in making war upon us, if it suited his political circumstances - So that the question of National Defences is not affected thereby - This letter has entailed several addressed to Milord, Some most approving, others from the Peace Society, condemning; & an illnatured attack f^m L^d John ⁴ in the H^e of Commons, in answer to M^r Cobden's ⁵ questions, of course (in his former letter) in mentioning the words used in Chesham Place, he quoted from the published report, & if "inaccurate", the fault is the Newspaper's, not his; all the world knew L^d John had used the words, & never contradicted them. His own answer to Cobden is certainly not accurate ab^t the French Armaments not being greater than required by them as a Maritime power - as the contrary is notoriously the case - Love to all -

Ever dear Henry Y^r aff^te
Caroline

I heard lately from Aunt Augusta ⁶ of the death of George Fitzgerald ⁷ at Nice - He had been a great Invalid for years - suffering terribly. The Gajas,⁸ on their way to Rome, were just in time to see him, & comfort his wife.⁹

[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham