TALBOT992

Sackville S^{t 1}
8 July 1822

My Dear M^r Feilding,

Montgomerie ² is in Norfolk; there is a letter from him lying on the table, I hope it contains the news of his having permission from y^e Bishop - We have had at least 20 applications from different Couriers, some very good, and many very bad: we had infinite difficulty in making up our minds, but have at length decided on a native of Chamberi who was servant to Murat ³ - we were chiefly determined by his good humoured looks - French & Italian he seems to be perfect in, but speaks no English - As for German he knows it a little, & as we all know it a little, I daresay [sic] we shall get on very well. I thought Italian of much more consequence as we sh^d be so much longer in Italy. - He is much more moderate than most of the others; I am to give him the same as I gave Pierre, ⁴ 1000 francs per annum, except that he is to have 5 francs a day board wages instead of 4. He is much the most good looking of any we have seen, Lord Auckland ⁵ heard of him first, from the Elliots in whose service he was - We intend starting Tuesday the 16^th, and may be expected by Horatia's ⁶ Birthday. - Lady Ilchester ⁷ shewed me a letter from William ⁸ dated from the Dardanelles 16^th May. He had been to Troy, & was coming home by Naples - I think he must go through Florence, & hope we shall see him. You don't say that you receive the periodical publications ⁹ I ordered, tho' I think some numbers sh^d be come before this time. Please to remember & write to some at least of the places we mentioned, viz - Brussels, Spa, Coblentz, Manheim [sic], Ulm, Munich Inspruck [sic], or Verona . Montgomerie's letter says he has not yet got his congé, ¹⁰ but expects it in a few days, & returns on Saturday 13^th to Town. He loses £200 per annum by the agricultural distress. ¹¹ My mother ¹² had a letter today from M^rs Noble - M^r Noble & the family were well, and many affectionate inquiries after Car. ¹³ & Hor. I bring with me a patent theodolite, ¹⁴ which will enable us to make a great variety of observations - It is also arranged in a peculiar manner which I thought of, enabling it to serve for measuring the heights of mountains. Kit ¹⁵ is gone round the Lands End in a yacht - On Friday 2^d August, is a great eclipse of the Moon, which I am sure you would like to shew my sisters, if the night is fine - A good way of shewing it, is to borrow any moderately good telescope, & take out the inner eyepiece which has 2 glasses, so leaving only the object glass & the eyepiece with its 2 glasses (next the Eye) - The object will then appear much smaller and brighter - It will be topsy turvy which don't [sic] signify - The following is the time at Florence

Beginning 39 min. past 11

Middle 9 min. past 1

The moon will then be 3 quarters eclipsed, and will give I sh^d think very little light.

Your aff^te

W.H.F.Talbot

Your letters have ceased to come; what is the reason I wonder. My mother says that except 2 or 3 times at first, & last Friday, she has written to some one of you every Post day. In my letter the other day, I mentioned how much I had reduced my rents, & told you my income w^d be from 1300 to 1400£ a year, but I forgot the interest of the money in the Stocks, which will make it 1500£

Turn Over

What a thing a lawyer's bill is! For the transfer of settled stock, M^r King ¹⁶ makes me A Hundred and Forty Eight separate charges, each of about a Pound.

à Monsieur le Capitaine
Monsieur Feilding

Poste Restante
Florence
Italie