TALBOT8428

Nice, Monday 24^th June

My dear Constance

I arrived here last Saturday and was very much pleased to find Your letter of the 18^th, which had just arrived that morning, and contained excellent news and many things which I wished to know. I crossed M^t <Cenis?> and took a walk of 2 hours by the side of the lake which lies near the summit of the mountain in a little grassy plain spangled with alpine flowers, among which are conspicuous the Gentiana verna and the large Gentianella, and 2 sorts of yellow violets, one of which I was surprised to find was sweet scented, and great plenty of Anemone Sulphurea which is the large kind you have in the Edinburgh gardens, and many other things. I came by Turin & the Col de Tende to this place. After descending M^t Cenis, the heat became excessive, so that even the peasants after saluting you, frequently say, fa caldo Signor! fa molto caldo! I started one day at 6 oclock and the next morning at 5, expecting coolness, but though it is pleasant just at sunrise, by 8 oclock the sun has gained much power, which it does not lose till towards 5 in the afternoon; – during all that time the sky is without a cloud, and so day after day. It seems there has been no rain for a long time. All the country between the Col de Tende and Nice is very much burnt up, resembling the descriptions one reads of Africa. The vintage is to be excellent this year in consequence. My next address will be hotel de l’ Empire rue neuve S. Augustin, Paris

Love to all

Your aff^te

Henry