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
Envelope:
C. H. Tal<bot> <4>Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Angleterre
Notes:
1. Paris, Exposition Universelle (Universal Exhibition), April–October 1867.
2. Museum of Cairo, established in 1835, by the Egyptian government.
3. Cephrenes or Chephren, Suphis II, of the 4th Dynasty (2565–2440BC), who is generally acknowledged to be responsible for the Sphinx
4. Text torn away, probably for the stamp.