Hotel du Luxembourg. Lyons.
Dec^r 8^th 1868 Tuesday

My dear Father

Not being able to find room last night at the Hotel de l’Europe which was the one recommended to me, they sent me to this one which is a very good hotel I hope you received my letters written from Paris on my arrival there. I left yesterday and came through to Lyons. – The journey is a fairly long one, and the day was rather rainy. –

There was an American gentleman in the same carriage with me who was going direct from Cambridge to Nice having been telegraphed for. – Consequently he had just succeeded in catching the train in London, and had crossed on Tuesday night. He said that the gale was tremendous and that the boat was very nearly wrecked at Calais. When about to enter the harbour at Calais, which you know has a very narrow mouth, they w missed it altogether and were carried past the pier, almost striking it and after that he said it was about an hour before they could get in. The officers said that if she had struck the pier the boat would have been cut in two and of course there could have been a lamentable catastrophe. He said that the gale kept increasing as they crossed, and that he thought the people of the ship were sorry that they had started when they were out.

It has been very hot in Paris, and there has been a good deal of rain and the streets were muddy, so that altogether it was not favorable weather for seeing the place. The Louvre was about the pleasantest spot under the circumstances. I have not received any letters from you. Will you tell Goodwin ^<1> that it will not be necessary to send bring the cigar cases, as I have bought one.

Before I started I gave him a bottle of oil of cloves, to apply to a certain picture in case it should prove to be worm-eaten and need it. I forgot to say that it should be applied to the back only if necessary. – He probably understands this, but it may be well perhaps to mention it.

I was much pleased with the collection in the Louvre, and could have spent a good deal of time there, but thought it better to get on – The amount of new building in Paris was more than I was prepared for. –

This town of Lyons I like, but the day is rather foggy and not favorable for a view –

My next stage will be to Avignon whither I shall go either tomorrow or the next day. –

I was rather surprised at Disraelis resignation ^<2> here –

I hope you mean to follow soon

Your affect son
Charles –

[envelope:]
Angleterre
H Fox Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham

---

Notes:

1. George Goodwin (d. 1875), footman at Lacock Abbey.

2. Benjamin Disraeli, 1^st Earl of Beaconsfield (1804–1881), Conservative Prime Minister (1868 and 1874–1880); the 1868 General Election brought victory to the Liberal Party and Disraeli surprised many by resigning, on 1 December 1868, before Parliament met.