Stapleton Palace <1>
Friday – 29th Oct
My dear Sir
Your letter, for which I am greatly obliged to you, finds me here, with a very large household party ongoing, in this dismal weather, the real episcopal hospitality of the olden time – and I can’t help troubling you with this acknowledgement of your kindness, to have the gratification of telling you with what real pleasure this good Bishop received your message, and remembrance of him:<2> – for he says this “nothing delights him so much as the reminiscences of his distinguished Pupils”.– He desires me then to express it to you–
Pray believe me, my dear Sir, faithfully & gratefuly Yours
Ge W Bridges
[envelope, annotated by WHFT "Revd Mr Bridges":]
To
H. F. Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham Wilts
Notes:
1. The Gloucestershire home of the Bishop of Gloucester.
2. James Henry Monk (1784–1856), Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, and previously a teacher of WHFT’s at Cambridge University. WHFT's letter to him has not been located.