TALBOT7894

4 Westbourne Crescent. ¹ Sunday

My dear Henry

I sent off yesterday, a little box containing a small pepper mustard & salt, stand, for dear Matilda’s ² luncheon tray – I hope she will like it & find it useful.

My sister Jane ³ is to leave Rome on the 1^st June – I hope the rush of English escaping from Rome is past. I believe it is not her intention to come home yet, as she fears this climate before July. Possibly they may go to Eaux Bonnes, which place I have heard her say, agrees wonderfully with Lucy.

Christopher ⁴ is now more easy about Olive ⁵ but she has been very languid all the winter and I fear this attack will render her still more so – She is still kept in bed, I hear – but is able to amuse herself and as my sister Mary ⁶ is with her now; Christopher himself has been quite upset with his anxiety – Their plans are quite uncertain, but I suppose Parliament will assert its claims by & bye and force part of the family to London.

We leave this smoky City on tuesday – and shall reach home I trust by the end of the week – after spending two or three days with Thereza ⁷ by the way. I was quite pleased to make acquaintance with your very pleasing niece Ernestine ⁸ – when we went to see Caroline ⁹ dressed for the Queen’s birthday. ¹⁰ – Alas! how little we see of each other. Remember me kindly to M^rs Talbot and your girls ¹¹

& believe me your very aff^te cousin
Emma Llewelyn