[illustration of seaport]
Tenby, from Windmill Fields

3 Rock Houses
Tenby Oct^r 7

My dear Henry

It is a long time since I have heard any thing of you & yours & I should be glad to think you are enjoying this delightful Summer weather at Lacock, the Sea is looking so charmingly clear and beautiful that here it is perhaps more like Summer than else where but I really can hardly think we are on October, the want of trees near at hand deceives one very much & I was quite surprised to find the leaves discoloured & the hedges looking rather the worse for the late windy weather when I went yesterday to Stackpole. But I must now tell you how I happen to be at Tenby (for the first time in my life) M^r Traherne & Charlotte invited me & Annie Franklen so as the Sea bathing always does her good we came to them for a fortnight & find it so pleasant we have prolonged our visit. I am delighted with the Sea & the Sands, there are wonderful curiosities too to be found when the Spring tides prevail and much to be seen in the neighbourhood. but the Town itself is dirty, ill lighted and very second rate altogether. This house is a private one only let for the six weeks that M^r Wedgwood is spending in Switzerland and his Brother who let it to M^r Traherne was too happy to get such a tenant & left the books all at his mercy! Which annoys him as he sees some editions are not perfect but no doubt they know it too the Cook & the Housemaid are their own Servants & have been here for some years – I send you a view of Tenby with Wormshead on the left side we see it from our windows when it is not thick. –

M^r Traherne is but poorly I am sorry to say he is getting feeble on his legs but Chary is wonderfully well this place agrees very well with her I am sure

Chris^r has established his Daughters at Margam now the Yachting is over & he is to go tomorrow, I think in the G^t Eastern round to Holy head! I hope there will be no more disasters but I had rather he did not go in her. –

Jane is actually going to Mark Eaton [sic] next week! – Thereza Maskelyne is getting quite strong again at Pennlergaer & can walk about tolerably well now this is all the news I have to send you I think for poor dear Annie Franklen continues much the same she suffers much but in the same patient & uncomplaining way as she has done all the time of her helplessness. –

I have not heard anything latterly of poor dear Uncle John’s family the blow being so sudden must have been very heavy to recover from indeed he was always so aff^ate & kind hearted he will long be lamented by all –

My love to My Cousins & C’s too Ever your aff^ate coz
Mary

[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham