TALBOT7099

Durnford Street
Stonehouse
Plymouth

Christmas Day 1854

My dear Henry

I cannot tell you how very sorry I was to hear that the lawsuit had gone against you; I did not see it myself in the “Times”, ¹ as I am usually a good deal in arrear with the Papers – but M^r Boyer told me of it – at the same time expressing his great concern & how very hard upon you he thought it was. It seems, as far as I understand it, to turn upon some quibble of Chemistry – but it is nevertheless exceedingly vexatious & unfair, & Milord ² as well as I, are very sorry & indignant at the result. Pray dear Henry tell me if you mean to try it again – which M^r Boyer says you can easily do if you think it worth while – by merely some slight change in the form of words – or if you intend to let the question remain as it is, tell me what are your expences, & my mite shall be forth-coming. –

I heard of Val’s ³ safe arrival at Rome, with L^d Fordwich ⁴ & our M^r Hay; whom he found a most agreable <sic> travelling companion. They hired a carriage at Civita V^a & bowled along merrily with the Post horses to Rome – They were just in time for the ceremonies of the 8^th in honour of the Immaculata Concezione ⁵ – The Pope ⁶ officiated at High Mass in S^t Peter’s – & in the evening the Dome was illuminated, & the Capitol too. They had also had a ride across the Campagna to the “single Pine”, in the direction of Veii – They seemed extremely busy & very happy. – Pray ask Amandier ⁷ if she received a letter from me written last Tuesday? I mentioned in it that if any of your woman–kind had any little objects to send to the Crimea, they might let me have them to go in a parcel I hope to send in a very few days – this week, by the S^t Jean d’Acre – called by the Sailors the Jenny de acres. I hope Constance ⁸ also received a Wild Turkey for Christmas? Give her, my nieces & nephew ⁹ & Amandier all my best love – & wishes for a merry Christmas & a happy New Year.

Ever y^r aff^te Sister

Caroline