My dear Henry
after many changes & much vacillation – in humble imitation of Ld Althorpe <1> <sic>, we are at last decided to go by Dover, & set out on Saturday – The length of the Passage possibly great sea sickness, certainly much, the necessity of going on a particular day or waiting 3 or 4, counterbalances the advantages of new country & a prettier – added to which from 3 or 4 day <sic> travelling in England, we shall be able to judge how she <2> bears moving & change of Beds &c &c – & can take a lodging for a week at Dover, & have salt water Baths if we find it adviseable – two Packets also sail daily – so we may choose our day Hour, & weather; I hope you approve The expence will be about £40 additional but this cannot be helped, & will be well laid out if it enables us to transport Horatia more advantageously – You will confer an inestimable benefit on us all if you will point out a road that is not quite impassable from Calais to Dijon which is not so dull as the old Abbeville & Beauvais track –
I am very glad to find by Constances <3> Letter today that there is still a chance of your coming to Les Delices <4> – you will be recd with a warm welcome – pray send us a Route – but it must be one you have travelled yourself. –
Yr aff
C. F
W. H. Fox Talbot Esqr M.P
Sackville St
London
Notes:
1. John Charles Spencer, Viscount Althorp, 3rd Earl of Spencer (1782–1845), politician.
2. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
3. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
4. The Feildings were staying at ‘Les Delices’, the Geneva house of François Marie Arouet de Voltaire (1694–1778) author and philosopher. [See Doc. No: 02969].