My dearest Henry
I have delayed & delayed in writing till you must think I have forgot you altogether, but I have been waiting till I cd tell you something decided about our plans - that however I cannot do yet - & for I never was so worried in my life, with hunting about & not finding anything which will do - today we are going to see a Chateau near the Forest of Fontainbleau, which describes very well, which we are in hopes may do - I have very little news to send you. There is a great deal of disquiet in the public mind, but whether it will break out into a flame remains to be seen - The law of elections will pass, & throw a great deal of influence & power into the hands of the ultras <1>, & I fear we know them too well to think they will make a good use of it - many people however imagine that the people will be so discontented at the change in the Charter that some tumult will take place - & my coachman told me the other day he thought "ma foi les Bourbons Monch[?] ne resteront pas long temp [sic] " <2>- I do not know whether he is good authority and I hear from England that there is some chance of the Ministers being turned out - that the King <3> is very angry with them - & that Lady Cunningham <4> (who is now his favorite vice Lady Hertford <5> deserted) is determined in having them out - I do not however build much on all these speculations - The beauty of Paris is beyond anything I ever saw in a Town & our garden particularly so - I went with Ld Winchilsea <6> as far as Boulogne to try for an house in that Quarter, & found one in the neighbourhood, which though not just what I want I now begin to regret I did not take given the difficulty there is in getting any thing at all
God bless you my dear Henry Yr affte
C. F.
Wednesday 10 May
Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
Trin. Coll.
Cambridge
Notes:
1. Extreme Royalist Party in France who supported Louis XVIII.
2. He means "my goodness, the Bourbon Monarchists won't be around much longer".
3. George IV, Prince Regent, later King of England (1762-1830).
4. Elizabeth, Countess Conyngham later Marchioness of Conyngham (b. 1770).
5. Isabella, Marchioness of Hertford, Lady Beauchamp (1759-1834).
6. George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea (1752-1826).