TALBOT7139

Stonehouse
Plymouth
April 20^th 1855

My dear Henry

Many thanks for your instructions about the R. Society ¹ – It is by no means such an easy matter to get in, I see. Milord ² has written another letter to the Globe ³ upon the Militia – & tho’ I believe it is not a subject that particularly interests you, he likes to send you anything of his – & therefore has commissioned me to send the Plymouth Paper, in which you will find the letter

Please let me know if you get it.

Has Horace ⁴ paid you a visit at Laycock yet? Charlie ⁵ was going off with a private tutor into Essex yesterday – but we must keep him a few days longer in consequence of a tiresome cough – Ernestine ⁶ & I have both been unpässlich ⁷ in town – Milord keeps wonderfully well – considering – for this East wind & hot sun are very unwholesome–

Is not Flora ⁸ fortunate to be in Waiting now? She says the Empress ⁹ is handsome & very graceful & pleasing – with a beautiful figure – But how extraordinary it does seem that Napoléon III ¹⁰ should be invested with the Order of the Garter by Queen Victoria’s ¹¹ own hand! Certainly wonders will never cease. I suppose the D. of Wellington ¹² w^d have choked, had he been still alive.

What does Amandier think of the decision in the Hopwood case?¹³

My love to Constance & all –

Y^rs aff^ly
Caroline

Val ¹⁴ is come back looking so well & strong – He enjoyed himself immensely at Rome –

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