Paris,
1st Sepr
My Dear Henry
The Tomb of Eloïse <1> is removed from the Museé des Monumens <2> to the Cimetière du Pere de la Chaise, <3> at the other end of Paris, which is a most singular spot. Heretics are allowed to be buried there as well as those belonging to la Sainte Eglise, some of the tombs are surrounded with roses, some with weeping willows, & some with Cypresses, it is on a high spot & commands a fine view of all Paris, over which we happened to see burst a Thunder Storm [illegible deletion], it was sublime. I have visited le Jardin des Plantes <4> & was very much pleased with the arrangement M. Lucas the Gardien <5> is a son of Buffon's, he was in raptures when he heard I was a cousin of Mr Fox's, & said he could never do too much for me Last night I saw Talma <6> in œdipe, <7> Madlle Duchenoy <8> acted Jocaste, <9> I did not think I would have liked French tragic acting so much, I always consider their tragedies fitter for the closet than the stage but it was really moving, Talma conveyed so much variety into his tones & manner that it prevented the monotony I expected from the constantly recurring rhyme.
The Poem I sent you by Ld Winchilsea <10> is by Mr Frere, <11> it is very clever & original, I am glad it amused you.
I picked up a plant for you in the Forest of Fontainebleau, I am not sure [text missing] <12> curious but I never saw it before. I was surprized to see then how very well dwarf Juniper flourishes as under wood, it is very pretty & bears the droppings of the Trees - Lord & Ly Holland <13> are here, they have thoughts of sending Henry Fox to Mr Bonny's <14> I think we shall be in England in about 3 weeks, plenty of time for you to write again, if you I want to go back some other road its so ugly by Calais
W. H. Fox Talbot Er
Revd Mr Bonny's
Normanton
Stamford
Notes:
1. The Tomb of Eloise and Abelard.
2. Musée national des Monuments Français.
3. The Cemetery of the Lachaise Father.
4. Also known as the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris.
5. Keeper, care-taker.
6. François Joseph Talma (1763-1826), actor.
7. She probably means the play Oedipus Tyrannus by Sophocles.
8. Probably a misspelling of Catherine Josephine Rafuin Duchesnois (1777-1835?).
9. She means Jocasta, in Greek mythology the wife of Laius, King of Thebes; she unwittingly married her son Oedipus.
10. George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea (1752-1826).
11. J. H. Frere (1769-1846).
12. Text torn away under seal.
13. Henry Richard Vassal Fox, 3rd Lord Holland (1773-1840), and his wife Elizabeth Fox, née Vassall.
14. Thomas Kaye Bonney (1782-1863), Archdeacon of Leicester.