TALBOT900

Redlynch. ¹
5 Dec^r

My dear Henry.

I write more to let you know that I am alive & hope that you are so too than from having anything to say – it is however something to be so after having, as I did the other day, burnt my gun – the breech being blown quite out, putting me a deux doigts de la morte ² – I thought for a moment my right eye was out. The Barrels remained in my left hand & the stock in my right till I dropped them both, to feel whether my nose was on & my eye in – all right however thank God, & seriously it was a great escape – how or why it happened I cannot guess –

We came here from Melbury ³ for 3 days shooting & have had very good sport. We return to Melb. tomorrow & shall be at Bowood ⁴ in less than a fortnight, & in Town by the 1^st of Jan^y when I hope to hear of your success, & also of y^r plans. Mine are still undecided but I hope to get to Rutlandshire & if possible to Sprotbro’. ⁵ at all events I shall be in Town by the end of Jan^y, to have all your papers & things in readiness by the day you come of age.

God bless you –

Y^r aff^e F^d
C.F.

direct S. S^{t 6}

[envelope:]
1820
Wincanton, Dec^r five,
Henry Fox Talbot Es^ew
Trin: Coll:
Ilchester,- Cambridge