Orleans
14th June 1843
My Dear Horatia
I left Paris yesterday evening at five oclock and came here by a spick and span new railway – I got here at ½ past nine, the distance may be 76 miles – The first half of the journey as far as Étampes is very pretty – Choisy le Roi is a beautiful village on the banks of the Seine, full of gardens. The valley of the Juine is lovely, cultivation struggling with the wildness of nature. A rich convent of Benedictines stood there, they were so snug and so rich that a pope came to see them – one of the Innocents.
From Étampes to Orleans, a level uniform boundless plain, or sea of cornfields. The rail runs twenty thousand metres in a straight line; a thought to delight the breast of any Civil Engineer –
Today was splendid weather, being the first summer day we have had since 20th May; twenty four days of weeping skies – and that was a solitary instance, having been preceded by a week of winds and storms. However today was a grand exception to the general rule, and I made a good many pictures, tho’ I lost time in looking for views & rambling about streets unknown to me. In the Evg I drove to the Château de la Source 4 miles hence and staid there till sunset. It is a very pleasant verdant spot. There the river Loiret rises suddenly from the Earth in the midst of a large circular basin, with a volume of water so large as to become immediately navigable – Old weeping willows hang over the margin, brilliantly illuminated by the setting sun – Woods shut in the view on all sides, and a chorus of singing birds had chosen the spot for their evening song – This rural retreat belongs to an old lady who kindly allows everyone to enter who pleases – Her château is large and of an imposing appearance – The great variety of shrubs testify to her having a botanical taste. The moment you leave her fairy demesne you are in an uninteresting plain covered with low vineyards, which I apprehend continues ad libitum <1> –
Whether I extend my tour further than this is doubtful. Adieu.
Your affte
Henry
Notes:
1. As far as it wishes.
2. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.