Whitehaven
October 30th 1811
My dearest Henry
I am delighted to find by the turn of your letters that you are occupied & amused & still more so to hear of your having so soon distinguished yourself I was quite sure you would (as soon as you became used to the way of the school) fulfill all my hopes & expectations. I trust also from your not mentioning the contrary that you are happy and comfortable & like the school better than you expected. I am afraid I shall not have the pleasure of hearing from you again as I shall be on the move till I get to Town. I cross over from Whitehaven to Annan Friday to pay a visit to the Marquis of Queensbury <1> & I had some idea of going to Edinburgh for a few days but fear it will be impossible for me to find time I shall call at Netherby St James Grahams <2> at Walton Mr Johnsons & probably at Newby Ld Granthams <3> in my way South & mean to be in Town on the 20th of November or thereabouts You may perhaps find that you can do without Trousers till I see you, but if you want them before that time they had better be made at Harrow <4> Whitehaven where I now am is a Town belonging to Ld Lonsdale <5> with immense coal works, which supply Dublin & many other Irish Places, besides the country round the Town & the Town itself We have had a Ball, to which all the Towns People came & we danced till 3 oClock.
God bless you my dear Boy & Believe me Yr most affte Friend
Charles Feilding
Notes:
1. Sir Charles Douglas, 5th Marquis of Queensbury (17771837).
2. James Graham, 4th Duke of Montrose (17991874).
3. Thomas Philip Robinson, 3rd Baron Grantham (17811859).
4. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 18111815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.
5. William Lowther, 2nd Viscount Lowther, Earl of Lonsdale (17571844).