20 March.
My dear Henry.
I received your letter from Paris. we rejoice in the idea of seeing you so soon – you will find us sulla Piazza del Carmine <1> – the only House in the Piazza in cima <2> – on left hand – Mr Stow’s name on the door. the carriage can come up to it but I conclude you will arrive on Horse back – in this case you are to turn to the left immediately beyond the Chiesa della Annunciata <3> – will you desire Lacroix <4> (with my kind compliments) to get me from Gent, the Grocer, 6 Boccalles <5> of prepared Olives – they are olives cut open the stone taken out & replaced with bits of Anchovy – he knows them very well – he must have them put in a Box, & they may come in the Fellucca [sic] with your things – If you come over the Col de Tende, & send nothing by Sea, then he must direct the Box to M. André Doxat <6> Genova & send it by the 1st Boat – Giovanni <7> may pay Lacroix. – Your Mother <8> is not & has not been comfortably well – she thinks the place disagrees with her & she is quite decided not to stay a moment beyond our Time the 30 April – we are nervous therefore about your Corsican scheme, fearing you will hardly be [illegible deletion] back to go with us to Venice We are busy hiring Furniture for & getting ready your & Giovanni [sic] Rooms & I hope you will find them comfortable – the Dundas’s <9> are expected here every day, & I have put off an excursion to La Spezia on that account – the King & Royal Family <10> are coming here in a few days, but they will not add to the gayety [sic] of the place. I hope you will not have had any difficulty about your Books & things at the Customs House at the Var – if you come in your carriage by Coni[?] I would recommend your sending cloaths [sic] & unattackable goods by Sea your Books &c you may then keep out of sight & get them into the Town easily enough –
Every bodys love.
Ever Yrs aff
C.F.
Monr
Monr W. H. F. Talbot
Nizza (Maritima [no closing bracket]
Notes:
1. On the Piazza del Carmine.
2. At the top.
3. The Church of the Annunciation.
4. P Lacroix, British Consulate, Nice.
5. He means ‘bocaux’, ‘jars’.
6. See Doc. No: 01746.
7. Giovanni Percij.
8. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
9. Lawrence Dundas, 1st Earl of Zetland (1766-1839), and his wife, Lady Harriet Dundas, née Hale (1769-1834).
10. George IV, Prince Regent, later King of England (1762–1830) and his family.