Paris,
Monday 7 October
My Dear Charles
I left our party at Berne last Monday and arrived in Paris on Wednesday. The weather in Paris has been exceedingly cold, with a freezing icy wind and much rain. Today is settled heavy rain – I am much pleased with the Great Exhibition 1 which is now drawing near to its close. The model of an Egyptian temple which stands in the park is very well done & looks very handsome. It is of a respectable size, since I suppose it would hold 200 people.
Inside are a collection of choice antiquities, borrowed from the Museum of Cairo 2 – such as the statue of King Cephrenes 3 founder of one of the great pyramids – this was found at the bottom of a well near the Great Sphinx. But the prettiest things are the jewels of a Queen found on her mummy, (older than Moses by several centuries) These are very handsome, long chains of gold, worthy of a modern jewellers shop & beautiful necklaces & diadems. Also a splendid battle axe and dagger.
At that time evidently Egypt was the chief country in the World. I propose to stay in Paris 2 or 3 days longer & then I am coming to Lacock for a bit.
Your affte
Father
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C. H. Tal<bot> 4Please cite as “TALBOT9258,” in Ɛpsilon: accessed on