Lacock

Monday 19 Dec^r

My Dear Charles

I had a letter from your mother ^<1> today which does not say that G. ^<2> is any worse, but any how I am afraid it will be a very tedious illness – I want you to look out on Thursday morning the 22^d for the eclipse of the Sun which will be a fine one

Begins (London time)	11.8.
greatest eclipse at	12.25
end	1.42

I daresay you saw in the papers the calamity which has occurred to the eclipse expedition, how they run on a sunken rock at Catania, just as they had reached their journeys end Catania being close to Mount Etna. We shall lose the fine observations on the Spectrum which were anticipated.

Your aff^te

Father

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Envelope:

C. H. Talbot Esq
4 Grove place
Weston Super Mare

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Notes:

1. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.

2. George Goodwin (d. 1875), footman at Lacock Abbey. [See Doc. No: 00224].