Mayence

9^th January 1827

My Dear M^r Feilding

The country as far as Kaiserslautern ^<1> was a mere waste of snow, and the road a sheet of ice, which the horses could hardly stand upon. But last night it rained torrents and this morning the snow had disappeared. Travelling is comfortable enough now except for the rain, but for 2 or 3 days it was uncommon cold, the thermometer at Metz ^<2> stood at breakfast time 17 degrees below the freezing point. I have met with no douaniers ^<3> yet, which is a miracle as I have passed thro’ the Prussian Bavarian & Darmstadt dominions. Probably they were frozen up in their douaner ^<4> –

I got a post into Prussia before I found out that I had left France, & had to send Giovanni ^<5> & the Carriage back that distance to get a Certificate d’exportation

Yours aff^tly

H. T.

Captain Feilding
31 Sackville Street
London

---

Notes:

1. City in Rhineland-Palatinate Land (state), southwestern Germany.

2. City, capital of the Moselle département, Lorraine région, northeastern France.

3. Customs officers.

4. Custom-house.

5. Giovanni Percij.