21 Decr
My dearest Henry
I write you two hurried Lines that Mondays Post may not go without taking something to you - Your sisters <1> are much better of their Colds, & your Mother <2> altogether better - though still so very nervous, that I doubt my being able to get away merely for a week - The Stanleys are however come who she likes, & there is something more going on in the world, so I hope to get her amused - Montgomeries Friend Bailey <3> is here but unluckily only passing through on his way to Nice - he would have been a great resource to her as he is a very agreeable man he will however be a great agremens <4> to Charlotte <5> as soon as she recovers from the affliction into which they will both be thrown by Sr W. Lemons <6> death. They will feel his loss very much - there never existed a better man or a kinder Father - Ld Aberdeen & his Brother Captain Gordon <7> who we met at Vienna are also going there for the health of Ld A daughter [sic] so they will have some society at Nice after all - You should take care of your cold - & for GOD's sake if you have any pain in your chest when you draw your breath as if you were swallowing a sharp instrument be bled directly. I hope however by this Time change of Air &c will have set you up & my prescription be unnecessary - We have less chance than ever of any gayeties [sic] at the Embassy as Ld Granville <8> expects to be obliged to leave the House himself while it is repairing. I wonder you had not recd our last Mondays Letter on Thursday when you wrote - from your Mother & Horatia I hope you got it sooner or later - Tell me what you think of young Richard <9>. Giovanni <10> has not yet heard of any Place. There are several who advertize but I do not enquire for them till I hear from you how your present servant goes on - One today who being an Italian speaks Greek Vallachian <11>Russian French Spanish German & English with an &c at the end of them which means more I suppose than the Paper will contain I shall see him out of curiosity -
W. H. F. Talbot Esqr
31 Sackville St
Piccadilly
Notes:
1. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808-1881); WHFT's half-sister, and Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810-1851), WHFT's half-sister.
2. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773-1846), WHFT's mother.
3. Rev George Stephen Molyneux Montgomerie (1790-1850), close friend of Talbot family, artist, Rector of Garboldisham, near Thetford, Norfolk.
4. Asset.
5. Lady Charlotte Anne Lemon, née Strangways (d. 1826), WHFT's aunt.
6. Sir William Lemon (1748-1824).
7. George Hamilton Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen (1784-1860), and his brother.
8. Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Granville (1773-1846). He had recently become British Ambassador at Paris.
9. Richard, a servant.
10. Giovanni Percij, London servant to the Feildings and Talbots.
11. Romanian.