Redlynch <1>
7th November 1816 <2>
My Dear Henry
Henceforth direct your Letters to Sackville Street, <3> as Mr F. <4> goes to town this Evening, & I am doubtful how much longer I stay here, but certainly not many days. I wonder I do not hear from you, but suppose you must be hunting M. As – all over the Country. Last Night was the coldest I ever remember I could not sleep for thinking myself in Nova Zembla. <5> I should like to know what degree of Cold it was exactly. Every body prophesies a very hard winter. I like your Euphratic paranomasia <6> very much. Have Did you ever hear the Furiarum maxima juxta [sic] Accubat of Virgil <7> applied à une une méchante femme couchée auprès de son mari. <8>–
We have a Bruton boy called Paul who goes every day to Wincanton for the letters, so we call him Paulo post – As he is generally after his time he might as well be called Paulo post futuras – so much for Zummerzetzhire <9> wit.
By the bye if it was not for the middle voice, aorists & duals & dialects Greek would be very easy, but they encumber it sadly – [illegible] <10> cloy my genius. Adieu, <11> I am afraid I shall never be that happiest of human beings a Scholar.
A poor Girl here whose schooling I pay for, told me she now thanked God almighty she should be a Scholar. Adieu again
Caramente abbracciarendoti con vero amore <12>
Sono <13> [illegible]
EF
I begin to be tired of this place, the paths are choked with dead leaves & Winter begins to spread his desolate domain.
Do you feel as if you required Sea air?
ansr this matter
W. H. Fox Talbot Er
Revd Mr Barne’s
Castleford
Ferrybridge
Notes:
1. Redlynch, Somerset, seat of the Earls of Ilchester (Barons of Redlynch).
2. Probably in WHFT’s hand.
3. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
4. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
5. The remote island of Nova Zembla (Novaya Zemlya).
6. Rhyming words, playing upon words.
7. ‘The greatest of the furies lies nearby’, Virgil, Æneid, book vi, lines 605–606.
8. A naughty woman lying next to her husband.
9. That is, Somersetshire with the local pronunciation.
10. Text obscured under seal.
11. Goodbye.
12. Embracing you dearly with true love.
13. I am.