Castleford, <1>
July 19th 1816.
My Dear Mamma,
I received the Box yesterday quite safe. Mr Hooker <2> told me he would ask Mr Turner <3> to send me a copy of his Muscologia Hibernica, <4> which Mr T. has accordingly done, accompanied by a very civil letter; which I send you, because I am at a loss what answer to return: so I shall expect you to send me your advice on that knotty point: unless you can find me a parallel case in the "Universal Letter writer". <5>
I wrote to Mr Hooker the other day, but as he has not answered my letter, I conclude he had left Town, before it arrived. He gave me his direction in the country, so I will write & ask him where Mohr <6> may be got. Will you enquire at Fladong's Hotel <7> when he left Town, for perhaps my letter is sticking there still.
I dined yesterday with Baring <8> at Kippax Park. <9> I enclose this to Lord Auckland, <10> pacé Francisci Freelingi <11> & hope for a speedy answer.
I remain, Yr Affte Son
W. H. F. Talbot
Lady Elisabeth Feilding
31 Sackville St
London
Notes:
1. Castleford, Yorkshire, 10 mi SE of Leeds, where WHFT went to school from 1815-1816.
2. Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865), Prof & botanist. [See Doc. No: 00134.]
3. Dawson Turner (1775-1858), botanist, author & banker.
4. Dawson Turner, Muscologiae Hibernicae spicilegium (London: J. Black, 1804).
5. Probably a later edition of Thomas Cooke, The universal letter-writer: or, new art of polite correspondence (London: 1791).
6. Probably a work on botany by D. Mohr. [See Doc. No: 00712].
7. Fladong's Hotel, Oxford Street; it was patronized by Naval men.
8. See Doc. No: 00704.
9. South East Leeds.
10. George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland (1784-1849), Governor General of India.
11. This means 'courtesy of Sir Francis Freeling' (1764-1836), Secretary of the Post Office.