Nice
Thursday May 28th 1835
My Dear Henry
Thank you for having written again so soon – I am comforted now for having made up my mind to put off Mrs Wilks, <1> [sic] as I find she could not have been here in time – I suppose by this time she has received my letter to that effect – I am very glad indeed to hear such improved accounts of Constance; <2> I have transmitted them à mesure <3> to Mamma <4> at Genoa – poor dear Henry! I wish some of us had been with you to comfort you during all this dismal time – you must have been very lonesome. – You need not be alarmed for us on account of the excessive heat here – We have not had one hot day yet, but on the contrary many cool ones – Today is positively cold, with a high wind & rain – I suppose the seasons are changed at Nice as well as in England – While these east winds last, I do not think L.V. <5> will get well, & I rather look forward to the hot weather, if it ever comes, as a means of recovery for him. – They arrived safely at Genoa last Friday– neither so much tired, nor frightened, nor disgusted with the rains as was to be expected– Horatia <6> delighted with the views, & pictures at the Palazzo Brignole, & preparing to go to the opera for the first time these two years!– I expect them back in another week, but I know nothing positive about their return – I wish you would do a commission for me; I hope it will not be a very difficult one, but I don’t know exactly the way it ought to be done – it is to send to Nice, directed to me , aux soins de M. Lacroix, <7> some Infant’s Biscuits – I am pretty sure the man who makes them lives in Berners St but Aunt Louisa <8> will give you the direction – they must be quite fresh– I shd like to have about 40 or 50 dozen– they shd be packed in air proof tin boxes & sent by the Roulage <9> – the diligence is much too expensive a mode of conveyance; but the other will do, although slower – I suppose th[ey]<10> could be plombés <11> as to the Var. – we’ enquire & see if you can do this w[ithout] much trouble – only send them immediately & ask Aunt L. for the shop that we may be sure of having the right kind–
Addio caro fratello <12> – the post is just going – Love to Constance
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
Angleterre
Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
31 Sackville Street
London
Notes:
1. Nurse.
2. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
3. On purpose.
4. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
5. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
6. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
7. In the care of P Lacroix, British Consulate, Nice.
8. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), wife of Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838; WHFT's aunt .
9. Carriage.
10. Text torn away under seal.
11. Glazed.
12. Goodbye dear brother.