Rottingdean <1>
Septber 2nd 1810
My Dear Mr Feilding,
I would have written to you sooner only I wrote such a long letter to Mamma, <2> that I had nothing more to say, for I do not like to write the same thing twice: but now I have plenty to say to you. About 5 o’clock Monday morning Burrowes got up & dressed himself, & took his Bible & two story books under his arm, & run away as fast as he could to Brighton where he tried to sell his books but nobody would buy them, he bought some gingerbread, & run on; at Preston he met a turnpike man, who gave him a good breakfast, & told him that he had a coach with four horses coming which would carry him gratis to London, supposing that whoever was his master (for he had told him that he had run away from school) would take four horses for greater expedition. So He staid there till Mr Hooker <3> caught him & brought him back. I am very tired it is so dreadfully hot –
Your affectionate Son –
W. H. F. Talbot
Capt. Feilding
Burley
Stamford
Notes:
1. Rottingdean, East Sussex, 4 mi SE of Brighton: WHFT attended school there from 1808–1811.
2. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
3. Rev. Thomas Redman Hooker (1762-1838), WHFT's tutor at Rottingdean and a most interesting character. His career prospects were seemingly cut short when his father lost his fortune to an industrial accident. Hooker became the private secretary to the Duke of Dorset, learned French, took Holy Orders and through the Duke's influence established an influential school. His pupils included the nephews of the Duke of Wellington and of Napoleon Bonaparte. He was also active in the local smuggling ring. See Arthur R. Ankers, revised by Michael Smith, Sussex Cavalcade (Sevenoaks: Hawthorns Publications, Ltd., 1992), pp. 97-100.