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Document number: 00851
Date: Fri 16 Jul 1819
Recipient: FEILDING Charles
Author: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA19-9
Last updated: 15th January 2011

Grillion’s Hotel
Friday
July 16. 1819.

My Dear Mr Feilding,

Our passage from Dieppe tho’ rather long was extremely pleasant – We embarked about 8 o’clock in the Evening, the wind being N.E. but scarcely perceptible – I remained on deck till 12, admiring the beauty of the night – The stars were very bright, & the comet <1> beautiful it being dark enough to display the whole length of its tail which reaches an enormous way. – We were beginning to lose sight of the light house near Dieppe when I retired to take a nap – When I reappeared in the morning we were in sight of Beachy Head, and it being a very clear day we had an excellent view of the Sussex coast from thence to Brighton as we passed along – We passed Rottingdean <2> very close & landed at Brighton shortly after sunset. We found that the last packet which left Dieppe 48 hours before us had only got in to Brighton that morning – On the whole I have no hesitation in recommending to you when you come, the Unity Capt Clear – I had some further particulars of Mdme Blanchard’s <3> death from some of the passengers – It was seen from a window in the rue du Helder. – Ld Powerscourt <4> had offered her 25£ to let him go up with her, which she declined because there was not time to alter the car. I heard also various particulars of the storm – One of our passengers was there in the boat going from Dunkirk to Bruges, a man was go walking by the side of the canal, carrying a child in his arms, when he was in their sight struck dead by a flash of lightning, the child fell into the canal. – At a little village near Dieppe nine horses were burnt by the lightning – Capt. Arabin one of our passengers was well acquainted with all the french savans – Of M. Bouvard <5> he had very little opinion. – The crops on the Brighton road are looking well, the storm does not appear to have extended to England. There is an immense crop of apples & pears this year; which is the reverse of France. Capt. Clear is a fat jolly John Bull. <6> How we got across I cannot tell, for there was hardly a breath of air the whole time – The water was quite smooth, and being perfectly well, I never had a pleasanter voyage – the day according to the Calendar was auspicious, being dedicated to St Bonaventure. <7> I arrived here yesterday evening & put your letters into the Twopenny Post with my own hand,

I remain Yrs very afftly
W. H. F.Talbot

Captn Feilding R.N.
Poste Restante
Rouen
France


Notes:

1. The Great Comet of 1819 was visible from the beginning of July.

2. Rottingdean, East Sussex, 4 mi SE of Brighton: WHFT attended school there from 1808–1811.

3. Sophie Armant Blanchard (1778–1819), balloonist. On 6 July, she rose above the Tivoli Gardens in Paris in a balloon laden with fireworks. Once in the clouds, she started to set them off, but something went awry and one of the rockets turned and punctured the balloon, causing a great fire. Her lifeless body was found sme distance away.

4. Richard, 5th Viscount Powerscourt (1790–1823)

5. Probably Alexis Bouvard (1767–1843), a self-taught French astronomer.

6. That is, an Englishman.

7. Saint Bonaventure (1221–1274), Franciscan theologian, minister general of the Franciscan order, and cardinal bishop of Albano. His traditional feast day is 15 July.