TALBOT851

Grillion’s Hotel
Friday
July 16. 1819.

My Dear M^r Feilding,

Our passage from Dieppe tho’ rather long was extremely pleasant – We embarked about 8 o’clock in the Evening, the wind being N.E. but scarcely perceptible – I remained on deck till 12, admiring the beauty of the night – The stars were very bright, & the comet ¹ beautiful it being dark enough to display the whole length of its tail which reaches an enormous way. – We were beginning to lose sight of the light house near Dieppe when I retired to take a nap – When I reappeared in the morning we were in sight of Beachy Head, and it being a very clear day we had an excellent view of the Sussex coast from thence to Brighton as we passed along – We passed Rottingdean ² very close & landed at Brighton shortly after sunset. We found that the last packet which left Dieppe 48 hours before us had only got in to Brighton that morning – On the whole I have no hesitation in recommending to you when you come, the Unity Cap^t Clear – I had some further particulars of M^dme Blanchard’s ³ death from some of the passengers – It was seen from a window in the rue du Helder. – L^d Powerscourt ⁴ had offered her 25£ to let him go up with her, which she declined because there was not time to alter the car. I heard also various particulars of the storm – One of our passengers was there in the boat going from Dunkirk to Bruges, a man was go walking by the side of the canal, carrying a child in his arms, when he was in their sight struck dead by a flash of lightning, the child fell into the canal. – At a little village near Dieppe nine horses were burnt by the lightning – Capt. Arabin one of our passengers was well acquainted with all the french savans – Of M. Bouvard ⁵ he had very little opinion. – The crops on the Brighton road are looking well, the storm does not appear to have extended to England. There is an immense crop of apples & pears this year; which is the reverse of France. Capt. Clear is a fat jolly John Bull. ⁶ How we got across I cannot tell, for there was hardly a breath of air the whole time – The water was quite smooth, and being perfectly well, I never had a pleasanter voyage – the day according to the Calendar was auspicious, being dedicated to S^t Bonaventure. ⁷ I arrived here yesterday evening & put your letters into the Twopenny Post with my own hand,

I remain Y^rs very aff^tly
W. H. F.Talbot

Captⁿ Feilding R.N.
Poste Restante
Rouen
France