London
Tuesday

My dear Henry

We tried your experiments of sympathetic ink by the fire – the black one came out directly very black & has remained ever since. The blue appeared by degrees & got very bright it has since nearly vanished but not entirely. How came you to discover it? M^r Twopenny ^<1> has just sent me the impression of a beautiful head of Omphale ^<2> which he shewed us at Laycock & two other curious old seals for the museum which I will take with me & shew you. I liked the party at Lansdowne House ^<3> better than the last – Lord V. ^<4> was in the House, so Car. ^<5> went with us, in her new pink sattin gown, & a black velvet hat & feathers, which was universally admired –

Amandier ^<6> set off this morning with M^elle de Longchamp. ^<7> – Mama ^<8> got a letter for her from M^r Tellier, the Secretaire d’Ambassade ^<9> who sings so well, to the Directeur des Douanes ^<10> at Calais, which will I hope be of great use to her.

Papa’s ^<11> foot is a very little better to day – I suppose we shall be able to go Saturday – I begin to sigh for fresh air.

Y^rs aff^te
Horatia

Tell Fitzsimmons ^<12> that no more Baskets should be sent. This looks like fixity so do not forget. We hear that William ^<13> has written a pamphlet on our Foreign Relations, which does him credit, but is not to have his name to it because from his position it is not supposed he ought to tell what he knows, tho’ nobody can tell it so well as he who does know. But there are so many diplomatic delicacies that it is kept a professed secret at the Foreign Office who is the author. I am afraid the Duchesse de Dino ^<14> will put off her Ball, on account of the Princess Louise whose death is hourly expected.

[envelope:]
Henry Talbot Esq^re
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham

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Notes:

1. William Twopeny (1797-1873), barrister, antiquary & accomplished amateur artist, London.

2. Lansdowne House, London: home of the Marquis of Lansdowne, WHFT's uncle and cousins.

3. Queen of Lydia, whom Hercules served as a slave.

4. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3^rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.

5. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.

6. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].

7. See Doc. No: 02320.

8. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.

9. Secretary at the Embassy.

10. Director of Customs.

11. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.

12. Cornelius Fitzsimmons, Scottish gardener at Lacock Abbey.

13. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4^th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.

14. Probably Dorothée, Duchess of Dino (1793–1862).