Burley, <1>
Christmas Day, 1816.
My Dear Mamma,
I have burned your note, in order that none of the Servants may read it - I assure you that I have not yet been once too late at either breakfast or dinner, which I hope you will consider as symptoms of incipient reformation -
The party here has been increased by Mr Finch Hatton, & Ly Charlotte Hatton, <2> and the Dowager Duchess of Rutland <3> - & Mr Baker, & Mr Raikes, the Commercial Dandy <4>- Ld & Ly Lonsdale, <5> with Lys Mary & Ann & Major Lowther <6> dined here the other day - from Cottesmore -
I believe I shot a Woodcock yesterday in Burley wood, but we could not find it as it fell among the bushes - which was vexatious, inasmuch as I don't know whether I killed anything else in the course of the Day - I missed a squirrel up in a high Tree - Tomorrow we are to shoot in Hambleton wood - You know Hambleton church, you see it from the windows - If my box of books arrives from Castleford during my absence, pray do not open it, but leave it for me to open. Have you had my mosses franked to Mr Hooker? <7> and what news of an astronomical note? Mr F. <8> called on Mr Bonney <9> today, he is to dine here some day soon, & I shall see him then - I have had several very good games of Chess with Miss Finch, <10> & I think on the whole, with success -
Yr Affte Son
W. H. F. Talbot
The Greek is for you, if you like it -
For Caroline & Horatia <11>
<συννεφα> <12> καλυπτει <13> Σεληνην <14> απ' <15>
Nubes obscurant Lunam ab <16>
The Clouds hide the Moon from
ημετερων <17> οφθαλμων <18>, αυτικα <19> ανεμος <20> εγειρεται <21>
nostris oculis, mox ventus orietur <22>
our eyes, soon the wind will arise
και <23> απελαυνει. <24> αυτα <25> ο ηλιος <26> αναστησει <27>
et dissipabit illas. Sol surget <28>
and will disperse them. The Sun will rise
και προβαλει <29> αυγην <30> δια <31> πασαν <32>
et emittet radiis per totum <33>
and will dart his rays through the whole
αιθραν <34>
æthera. <35>-
sky. -
The Lady E. Feilding
Sackville St
London
Pray write every day Yr letters are my whole & sole amusement <36>
Send the enclosed note & forward me Miss Priddies[?] answer as soon as you [text missing] <37>
Notes:
1. Burley, Stamford.
2. George William Finch-Hatton, 10th Earl of Winchilsea (1791-1858). [See Doc. No: 00734].
3. Mary Isabella Manners (1756-1831), Duchess of Rutland, widow of Charles Manners (1754-1787), 4th Duke.
4. Thomas Raikes the younger (1777-1848), diarist and dandy who had a reputation for 'rising in the East and setting in the West.' During the day he worked in the City (on the East end) and travelled to the West End of London in the evening for entertainment, enjoying his role as one of the 'rakes' of London.
5. Probably Sir William Lowther, 2nd Viscount Lowther, later Earl of Lonsdale (1757-1844), and his wife Augusta Fane. Sir Lowther built the Lowther Castle in Penrith.
6. Children of the 1st Earl of Lonsdale, (1757-1844) and Lady Augusta Fane (1761-1838): Lady Mary Lowther (1785-1862), Lady Anne Lowther (1788-1871) and Major Henry Cecil Lowther (1790-1867) of the 10th Hussars; in 1817, he was promoted to Lt. Colonel in the 12th Foot.
7. Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865), Prof & botanist. [See Doc. No: 00134.]
8. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780-1837), Royal Navy; WHFT's step-father.
9. Thomas Kaye Bonney (1782-1863), who became Archdeacon of Leicester in 1831.
10. Henrietta Finch (d. 1818), sister of George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea. [See Doc. No: 00788].
11. 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.
12. Text torn away under seal.
13. Hides.
14. Moon.
15. From.
16. The clouds hide the moon from.
17. Our.
18. Eyes.
19. Soon.
20. Wind.
21. Will arise.
22. Our eyes soo the wind will arise.
23. And.
24. Will disperse.
25. These, them.
26. The sun.
27. Will rise.
28. And will disperse them. The Sun will rise.
29. Will show, will dart.
30. Dawn.
31. Through.
32. The whole.
33. And will dart his rays through the whole.
34. Sky.
35. Sky.
36. Added to the outside address sheet.
37. Added to the outside address sheet.