TALBOT694

Paris,
April 25^th 1816.

My Dear Mamma,

We have been twice to the Comedie, at the Theâtre Français, ¹ rue de Richelieu. M^lle Mars & Fleury ² played both nights. I understand enough to be very well amused, though I lose a great deal of the wit. We were in the Orchestra both times, where we see & hear perfectly. We were both unwell for the first day or two, but at present are quite well. The weather is clear & hot: very hot. Yesterday I went to Sir Robert Wilson's ³ trial in the Palais de Justice, ⁴ Ile de Notre Dame, It was excessively crowded, so that we could scarcely obtain a place, tho' we had billets and arrived an hour & a half before it began. It was the third & last day of the Trial: M. Dupin ⁵ made a most eloquent defence for the English: and then Sir Robert Wilson spoke for himself; & M^r Bruce ⁶ [illegible deletion] did the same; Hutchinson ⁷ said he had nothing to say. Sir Robert spoke the best Speech, and M^r Bruce the best French. When Sir Robert had finished, there were great acclamations, which incensed the Judge, who shouted for the gendarmerie. ⁸ The judge then made a long dull charge to the jury, who found the English prisoners guilty, & acquitted the French; - Madame Lavalette was in Court. Lady Wilson ⁹ staid in the carriage outside - The Heat was intolerable. I wish you were here, you would like it excessively. We dined yesterday at Very's the restaurateur in the Palais Royal; ¹⁰ He has a long list of comestibles, all ready at a minute's notice, and so good. Our diner [sic] was as follows,

Potage au riz à la purée. ¹¹
Coquille de volaille aux truffes. ¹²
Pommes de terre au mâitre d'hôtel. ¹³
Fricandeau aux haricots. ¹⁴
Soufflet
Vin de Volnay.
Café.
Garçon. for 14 Francs.

After the Comedie we had some Sorbet au <? resquin>., ¹⁵ at the Café de Foy. We intend in future to eat nothing but odd names - such as, "Epigramme d'agneau". ¹⁶

I remain, Y^r Aff^te Son
W. H. F. Talbot

Lady Eliz. Feilding
31 Sackville St.
London