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Document number: 7302
Date: 14 Oct 1856
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: PETIT DE BILLIER Amélina
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: Acc no 20960 (envelope only)
Last updated: 7th February 2015

Bath
14th of October / 56

Cher Monsieur Talbot;

Je veux vous adresser quelques lignes de remerciements pour m'avoir engagée à lire cette lettre de M. Gladstone, sur les terribles affaires de Kansas.<1> Il me semble qu'on ne trouve nulle part dans l'histoire, l'exemple d'une telle fureur; certes le 19ème siècle n'offre rien de semblable parmi les nations chrétiennes et soi-disant civilisées. Il semblerait que la férocité des Sauvages s'est inoculée chez les nouveaux habitants du sol américain, sans présenter aucune des charactéristiques d'une certaine noblesse innée que l'on aime à trouver parfois chez les premiers.

J'ai lu aussi une lettre dans le mème Times, d'un americain du nom de Barnard qui explique ces déplorables complications d'une manière très lucide, ce me semble, et d'un ton bien différent de celui du Marchand de Weston et Kansas!<2>

L'horison politique n'est pas très clair [.] ne serait-il pas bien surprenant que la paix de l'Europe fut troublée, encore une fois, au sujet du misérable Bomba ?.<3> - En France il règne un malaise et même un mécontentement sourd, ordinaire avant coureurs des crises. Comment votre ami Bedinguet fera-t-il face à toutes ces difficultés? Il parait que c'est le manque d'argent qui réfroidit ses amis et encourage ses ennemis; En attendant notre Eugénie s'amuse aux combats de taureaux et tue des faisans - Bello!

Je vous écris du coin de mon feu lorsque vous êtes en ce moment occupé à faire les honneurs à votre-hote-maitre. J'avoue que j'aurais aimé le voir et surtout à l'entendre causer si tout est qu'il cause bien et qu'il pensa bien ce qui vaut mieux encore.

Le temps est doux: la pluie commence à tomber après un jour nuageux et triste. Dimanche était délicieux, mais je n'ai pas pu sortir. Le bon Dr Watson.<4> vient me voir et me soigne d'amitié. Du reste il n'y a ici personne que le connaisse et j'en suis bien aise: Je reverrai demain avec joie tout le monde de l'Abbaye. Rosamund m'a écrit une bonne petite lettre française

J'espère que vous serez content de votre journée d'aujourd'hui.

Croyez-moi votre bien affectionnée
Amélina Petit

29 Brook St

[envelope:]
W. H. Fox Talbot Esq.
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham


Translation:

Bath
October 14th/56

Dear Mr Talbot

I wish to address these few lines of thanks to you for having urged me to read this letter from Mr Gladstone, regarding the terrible business in Kansas. It seems to me that an example of such fury is not to be found anywhere else in history; indeed the 19th century offers nothing similar among the Christian and so-called civilised nations. It would appear that the ferocity of the Savages has infected the new inhabitants of American soil, without presenting any of the characteristics of a certain innate nobility which is sometimes to be found in the former.

I also read a letter in the same Times, from an American by the name of Barnard which explains these deplorable complications in a most lucid fashion, it seems to me, and with a tone which is very different from that of the Merchant of Weston in Kansas!

The political horizon is not very clear. Would it not be most surprising if peace in Europe were to be troubled, once again, by the matter of the unfortunate Bomba. - In France an uneasiness reigns, indeed even a dull discontent, ordinarily precursors of crises. How will your friend Bedinguet face up to all these difficulties? It seems that it is the lack of money which dampens his friends' spirits and encourages his enemies; In the meantime our Eugénie amuses herself at bullfights and kills pheasants - Bello!

I am writing to you from beside my fireplace while you are, at this moment, occupied with honouring your distinguished guest. I confess that I should have liked to have seen him and especially to hear him for he talks well and thinks well, which is even better.

The weather is mild: the rain is beginning to fall after a cloudy and sad day. Sunday was delicious, but I was unable to go out. The good Dr Watson is coming to see me and attends to me with friendship. Besides I do not know anybody here and I am most pleased at this: I shall see everybody again with great pleasure at the Abbey. Rosamond has written me a good little letter in French.

I hope that you will be happy with your day today.

Believe me your most affectionate
Amélina Petit

29 Brock St

[envelope:]
W. H. Fox Talbot Esq.
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham


Notes:

1. The reference is to the "Sack of Lawrence" which occured on 21 May 1856, when a pro-slavery Sheriff led a posse into the liberal Kansas town which had been founded on anti-slavery principles only two years earlier. A letter from Thomas H. Gladstone about "A Visit to Kansas" was published in the Times, 11 October 1856, p. 10.

2. the letter by D.D. Barnard (the former American minister at Berlin) was submitted by "W.H.H. (A New-Yorker)" living in England to the Times, 11 October 1856, p. 12.

3. Ferdinand II (1810-1859) was the King of the Two Sicilys from 1830 until his death. His nickname of "King Bomba" came from his brutal shelling of the Sicilian cities in 1848. William Gladstone termed him "the negation of God erected into a system of government."

4. Dr James Watson (1792-1878), a Scottish-born doctor, practising in Bath and resident at 13, The Circus.

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