Gray, dépt de la Haute Saône,
13th August 1828
My dear Mother
I sent my last letter from Chaumont. I had beautiful weather today, and frequently pretty scenery. The situation of Langres is very bold, on the summit of a high hill; you see it ten miles before you come to it, and it is surrounded with massy walls - I expected to see Mt Blanc from thence, but the view proved hazy, and I have had no glimpse of the Alps yet; - but I saw the chain of the Vosges very plainly. - I saw Mt Blanc beautifully from Dijon two years ago, which is further off from it than the place I am now writing from; - I should be glad to know the extreme point to which it can be seen. Montgomerie <1> would make a very pretty sketch of this town, Gray; it rises in the shape of a pyramid crowned by a church; in the foreground the river Saône, crossed by a bridge of six or seven arches - Ever since I left the Strasburg road at St Dizier the journey has been very agreeable. Fine weather, and a great improvement in roads & scenery.
In the room here are two large prints of Bloomsbury & Hanover Squares in 1787 - they are curious, and it is odd how they should ever have got here.
Besançon
16th August
I left Gray early in the morning of the 14th and arrived here at half past one - The day being rainy, & likely to continue so, I thought it best to stop here - Late in the Evening it cleared enough to let me take a walk to the citadel -
Yesterday the 15th it rained all day - There was no use in attempting to proceed in such weather.
Today it rains again, but as I have hopes of its clearing up I intend to set out. The entrance to Besançon is very fine indeed, & would make a picture - I found I had forgotten the place very much - I had a general impression of its being very picturesque, but I found it more so than I expected, altho' I had seen so many remarkable towns in the course of my travels.
Your affte Son
H. Talbot
Lady E. Feilding
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Angleterre
Notes:
1. Rev George Stephen Molyneux Montgomerie (1790-1850), close friend of Talbot family, artist, Rector of Garboldisham, near Thetford, Norfolk.