Sackville Street <1>
17th June
Dear Henry
As I have not a Horse whip long enough to reach you in this distance, I must beg you to chastise yourself properly, whenever you omit your gargarism,<2> as I am intent on your being cured, & should imagine you cannot be very indifferent about it. On our way back from the Boulogne Mouth <3> we left your Mosses at Fladong's Hotel <4> & bespoke your German Pocket Book so I am sure no time has been lost in executing your commissions. Mr F. <5> took Car. & Hor. <6> into St Paul's pour les distraire <7> after parting with you, which had the desired affect Pray write instantly & tell me all yr adventures
Ever yrsafft
E F
London June seventeen 1816 Auckland <8>
Hy Fox Talbot Esqr
Revd Mr Barnes
Castleford
Ferry bridge -
Notes:
1. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
2. Gargling.
3. Boulogne harbour aslo known as Boulogne Mouth.
4. Fladong's Hotel, Oxford Street; it was patronized by Naval men.
5. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780-1837), Royal Navy; WHFT's step-father.
6. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808-1881); WHFT's half-sister, and Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810-1851), WHFT's half-sister.
7. To amuse them.
8. George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland (1784-1849), Governor General of India.