Hôtel Meurice <1>
10th January
My Dearest Henry
I have been quite uneasy about your uncomfortable journey, & I think you have often repented among the wilds of Germany, that you did not take my advice & put off your journey till the first dawn of Spring, however when things begin ill they generally improve unless, as the Irish proverb says, they grow worse. We shall not certainly be off before the 15th so I hope you will continue to direct here, at least a little longer.
Koreff has acquired great credit for having shewn consummate skill in saving Lady Aldborough’s <2> life, & now that she is convalescent she says his conversation acts as a tonic. Do not forget to inquire about Oxide of Titanium for me. The weather is entirely changed from intense cold to damp & muggy. We keep a journal of it for you against yr return. I hope you found my letter at Leipsic We have only had two from you, one from Chalons sur Marne & the other from Verdun. I rather wonder you have not written oftener, as it is my only comfort in your absence. Do not you remember in Italy how the Sherrards & Fellowes’s <3> used to pursue us from place to place, the y last time I saw them was at Mola di Gaeta, <4> & here in this Hôtel is Miss Fellowes <5> married lately to a Mr Chichester. She says her Cousin la piccola rossa d’Angioj <6> died 3 weeks ago, having broke [sic] a blood vessel. She has lately heard of Angioj from her brother who saw him & who says he is much annoyed at not hearing from us! curious enough when he has never answered our letters written by you last March. Richard <7> has been extremely ill & Gwynne <8> keeping her bed, which has delayed our packing It is no use to tell you as news the D. of York’s death <9> puisque sa femme était Princesse de Prusse <10> you will be sure to hear enough of it. I saw Humboldt <11> chez la Comtesse Rumford, <12> he knew me directly & came & asked about you & said that one of his letters would be of use to you in the way of Fêtes <13> &c “car il faut de tout pour un jeune homme”. <14>
God bless you Caro Carissimo <15>
19 Jan.
Monr
Monsieur W. H. Talbot
Poste Restante
à Berlin
en Prusse
Notes:
1. Paris.
2. David Ferdinand Koreff (1783-1851), a German born Jew who was later baptised and entered the service of the King of Prussia; starting in 1821, he spent time in Paris and in England. Lady Cornelia Jane Aldborough, née Tandy (d. 1877). The story of his rescue of her has yet to be traced.
3. See Doc. No: 01539.
4. See Doc. No: 01073.
5. Harriot Chichester, née Fellowes. [See Doc. No: 01539].
6. Angioj’s little redhead. This is a reference to Louisa Sherrard. [See Doc. No: 01539].
7. Richard, a servant.
8. Mrs Gwynne (d. winter 1841/1842), lady’s maid, cook and housekeeper to Elisabeth Feilding.
9. Frederick Augustus, Duke of York (1763–1827). He died on the 5th of January.
10. Since his wife was a Prussian Princess. She was Frederica Charlotte Ulrica Catherina (1767–1820). The arranged marriage took place in 1791 but the couple soon separated.
11. Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859), German scientist.
12. Marie Anne Pierette, née Paulze, widow of the chemist A L Lavoisier, who married Count Benjamin Rumford in 1805.
13. Feasts, festivals.
14. A young man must have everything he can.
15. Dearest dear.