TALBOT7096

[the lower right corner of the first sheet is torn away]

[blindstamp:]
The Athenæum ¹
London

Sunday 17 Dec^r

My dear Constance

I wish very much to know whether dear Charles ² was first in the examination this time.

We have had very mild weather in Town for a day or two but today is cold a[text missing] I have ordered [text missing] Lit Gazette ³ to b[e] [text missing] at the end of the year and the Athenæum ⁴ continued.

The trial ⁵ is tomorrow in the Guildhall of the City of London – We think L^d Palmerston’s Act of last Session against Smoke, ⁶ has really produced some effect, for today there was a most brilliant sun in London and [text missing]ts envious – [text missing]Foreign Enlistment Bill ⁷ [text missing] much liked it seems as if there were not enough Englishmen willing to volunteer, which I believe is quite a mistake.

I wish M^r Layard ⁸ had kept to Nineveh and not entered Parliament now he has got himself into a scrape, by writing a letter from the maintop of the Agamemnon which got into the London papers, reflecting on Admiral Dundas ⁹ –

Pray tell me if the Shakespeares¹⁰ [sic] arrived on Saturday.

Adieu

Your aff^te
Henry