Sir/
I Have made every Inquiry respecting yr box from Liphook, whether or not it Can Remain Unexamined at the Custom House untill yr Return and I find it Cannot be done in any other way than by a Treasury order, and Should you think proper to send it, I feel no Difficulty in being able to obtain one having made Enquiry abt it –
I have been Informd by Mr Tully that the Tellescope will be Compld the later End of this week (which of Course I do not believe) but Should that prove even the Case – I have made up my mind, not to Receive it, for two Reasons, the first is that the 15th day of this month will be past; and the Second is, that their [sic] is no Vessel abt Sailing for Leghorn Either in a Direct or Indirect way, at Present; the agents Say it will be a few weeks first, but in truth their [sic] is no doubt but their 2 or 3 Weeks, will prove 5 or 6
I Sincerely hope my decision will meet yr approbation – I feel greatly obligd Sir, for yr Kind Enquiry after my health and am happy to have it in my power to Say that I am Tolerably well. I think Something better on the whole, but Certainly not worse; for the last Six Months I may Say decidedly better
The Contents of the Packet from the Royal Institution is a Certificate of Election, and Receipt – <1>
I Sincerely hope Sir you are in good health, as also the whole of the Family –
The Weather here for the last Fortnight hath been Siverely [sic] Cold, with hard Frost and a heavy fall of Snow, the Thermometer Frequently as Low as 23, we Expect the Thames Frozen in a day or two Should this weather Continue, –
Yr most Respectful and very obt Servant
Rd Burden
Jany 16th/23
I should have wrote Earlyer Sir but waited the Event of Mr Tully –
I have not as yet Recd yr order for to forward Some books to you, which you mention in yr Last –
Fox W Hy Talbot Esq <2>
signr Inglese
Poste Restante
Napoli
Notes:
1. Royal Institution, London.
2. Burden added "Fox" as an afterthought, which may have led to improper sorting in the postal unit in Naples. See Doc. No: 01059.