Geneva
6th October 1828
My Dear Mr F.
The news from England today is very gloomy. Our ignorant and incapable ministry <1> seem bringing us into a critical situation. I hear they have arrested O’Connell and Shiel; <2> I hope it is not true;– if that was ever necessary it should have been done long ago, before the Catholics were organised. But I cannot see that O’Connell & Shiel have committed any act of sedition, or that their language has been more intemperate of late than usual.– The only meritorious act of this ministry has been the recognition of the queen of Portugal. <3> I suppose you have seen her. I wish she had accepted Sir Charles’s invitation to Carclew <4> – when next God save the King is sung, it would be proper to make a slight alteration, and sing
Send us Victoria
Happy, and Gloria) which elegant compliment to our two princesses <5> (who no doubt will soon be bosom friends) would not be lost upon the Galleries. I am quite sorry to hear that Croker is not to be turned out; and that Hay is not to be Secretary. <6>– I think of leaving Geneva the 10th. The weather is grown bad. I expect to land at Brighton, pray write to me there. In the book at Chamonry is written “Mr Gill of London. Ran down Montanvert in 45 minutes.” Underneath somebody had added: <7>
Mr Gill, of Holborn Hill,
came all the way from London
to see a hill, much higher still,
and try how fast he’d run down.
I had a fine walk last week in the mountains, about 21 miles a day, for three days following – I think I could have done a good deal more if necessary. Have you read the letter of Noodle to Doodle? I mean of the Duke of N. to Lord K.? It shews the state of the hereditary intellect of these kingdoms–<8>
7th October
I am glad to find the papers today do not confirm the account of O’Connell’s arrest, nor that of our ministry having quarrelled with Russia about the blockade of the Dardanelles. <9> I expect tomorrow’s news with impatience.
Yours afftly
H. Talbot
Capt. Feilding R.N.
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Angleterre
Notes:
1. Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769–1852), prime minister of Great Britain (1828–1830) with a Tory government.
2. Daniel O’Connell (1775–1847) politician, Irish nationalist, and Richard Lalor Sheil (1791–1851) formed the Catholic Association in 1823 to gather support for the repeal of the anti-Catholic laws. In July 1828 O’Connell himself, although (as a Catholic) ineligible to sit in the House of Commons, defeated a man who tried to support both the British government and Catholic emancipation. After the Emancipation Act of 1829 O’Connell finally took his seat at Westminister.
3. Maria da Gloria (1819-1853), Maria II, Queen of Portugal 1826-1828 and 1834-1853. Her father, Peter IV of Portugal constitutionally abdicated in favour of her, then seven years of age. She was to marry her uncle Michael (Peter IV’s brother), who became Regent on 22 February 1828, accepting the existing liberal constitution. However, he proclaimed himself king on 7 July 1828 and Maria was not restored to the throne until 1834. Britain recognised Maria, not Michael, a position approved by WHFT.
4. Sir Charles Lemon (1784–1868), politician & scientist; WHFT’s uncle. Carclew, Cornwall, 3 mi N of Penryn: seat of Sir Charles Lemon.
5. Princess (later Queen) Victoria (1819–1901) and Maria Gloria. 'Send us Victoria, Happy and Gloria' is a variation on lines from the British National Anthem:
Send him/her victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
God save the king/queen
6. John Wilson Croker (1780-1857), Irish-born Tory MP 1807-1832 and Secretary of the Admiralty 1810-1830. He was strongly opposed to the Reform Bill of 1832.
7. Montanvert/Montainvert/Montvers is close to Chamonix in S.E. France, giving access to the Mer de Glace, the largest glacier in France.
8. 'Noodle to Doodle' means here two simpletons, probably recalling two characters in Henry Feilding's 1731 play, The Tragedy of Tragedies; or, The Life and Death of Tom Thumb the Great. The 'Duke of N' was Henry P F Pelham-Clinton, 4th Duke of Newcastle under Lyne (1785-1851); 'Lord K' was George Kenyon, 2nd Baron Kenyon (1776-1855) The published letter dated 18 September 1828 was virulently anti-catholic. It was widely re-printed, i.e. Cobbett's Weekly Political Register, no. 14, 4 October 1828, pp. 429-435.
9. During the 1828-1829 Russo-Turkish War, Russia blockaded the Dardanelles, the straits separating Europe and Asia, giving access between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. It became British policy to deny Russia control of the Dardanelles and to keep the Ottoman Empire in possession. WHFT does not believe the 1828 blockade warrants a quarrel with Russia.