Paris,
May 6th 1816
My Dear Mamma,
Thursday last we went a party of thirteen to see St Cloud, <1> & the manufactory of Sévres China, <2> of which we saw some magnificent specimens. In particular, there was a table valued at 35000 francs, that is £1450,, 13,,s 4d. Yesterday we went to see Versailles, the Grand Trianon, & the little Trianon, <3> with the same party. The last has a garden in the English style, made by Marie Antoinette, <4> which is infinitely preferable to the formality of the French tho’ these are amusing enough for a change. We saw an orange tree 395 years old, & another sown by Francis the 1st. <5> The chief pleasure in seeing these places, is I think the acquiring juster ideas of what one has heard so much of.
Valy,
Yr Affte Son
W. H. F. T.
Lady Elis. Feilding
31 Sackville St
London
Notes:
1. St Cloud, porcelain factory at Chantilly, Fontainebleau.
2. He means the royal factory (now the national porcelain factory) of Sèvres, near Versailles. It used to be under the personal patronage of the kings Louis XIV and Louis XV.
3. The Grand Trianon, also known as the Marble Trianon, at Versailles, designed in 1687 by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, and the Petit Trianon, small castle built by Gabriel for Louis XV. They were both built as private residences for the royal family and special guests.
4. Marie Antoinette, Queen of France (1755–1793).
5. Francis I (1494–1547).