TALBOT687

Sackville S^{tr 1}
March 25^th

My Dear Henry

The time of your Holidays is still in the book of Fate, as soon as it is determined I will let you know.

The Penriceans ² arrived the day before yesterday, at the same hour in Berkeley Square.

Poor Van alias old Nick ³ is at his wits end for Taxes, ⁴ M^r Croker ⁵ has asigned his additional Salary & Opposition are amazingly triumphant at all they have performed these last ten days.

It is said the Prince Regent’s disorder ⁶ is turning into a Dropsy which is a very common finale for hard Drinkers as he has been. The Royal Wedding ⁷ is at present fixed for the 5^th April. Caroline & Horatia ⁸ have already but too much taste for Horticulture, as they are doomed to live between walls, it is an inconvenient taste, however I have so far gratified it as to buy them a pot of Crocusses & another of Hyacinths which are near nothing & fading in their window. This [illegible] ⁹ to Car to compose a French Fable which she has entitled Le Jacinthe & le Safran, & The Matters or dialogue between them in which the Crocus boasts of its brilliant colours but the Hyacinth thinks it has more merit in smelling sweet

I have desired Jane ¹⁰ to try & guessed, but I am afraid she is not Historian enough. You did not tell me what you thought of my last seal

I thought of Panormus, ¹¹ which was taken by the Romans, because the first part of the Charade seemed to be Pot or Pan but that will not do.

London March twenty five 1816 Auckland ¹²
H^y Fox Talbot Esqr
Rev^d M^r Barnes ¹³
Castleford
Ferrybridge –