Boulogne.
Monday. 14 Augst
My dear Henry
I want you to let me know as soon as you can the day you propose being here as I intend going to Town towards the end of the month & we may as well come back together - I do not wish to be above a week or ten days in London & shall therefore set out from hence sooner or later according to what you write me word of your plans - I was in London last week for a couple of days about Caroline's <1> Teeth, & to attend my Brother in law Mr Hicke's <2> Funeral - but I hardly saw a soul & picked up no news of which to write you an account - It would suit me best to leave London about the 4th or 5th but if you had planned to come here sooner I must either change my schemes or let you come on before me - what I have to do is with the help of Richard <3> to take charge of my house which will be given up to me on the 1 Septr & Richard will require about 3 days to get the Furniture taken down &ca &ca & we should both be uncomfortable here without him so you see how the matter stands - if however you carry on here before me, you would be very welcome - in short write to me what you think about it all
CF
W. H. Fox Talbot
Trinity College
Cambridge
Dover Ship Letter
Notes:
1. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808-1881); WHFT's half-sister.
2. George Hicks (1772-1820), barrister at law, magistrate of police and husband of Augusta Sophia Hicks, née Feilding, sister of WHFT's step-father.
3. Richard, a servant.