Normanton, <1>
May 18th 1817.
My Dear Mamma,
I have written a long letter to Caroline <2> about the stars. - If she succeeded in seeing Mercury <3> on Saturday, her acquaintance with him will be exactly coëval with mine. However he will be visible till the 21st - I should like very much to have any telescope that is powerful, & the more magnifying power it has, the better. I don't think that which I have will be good enough to shew me the occultation of the star & Libræ on the 20th of the present month. From Murray's Lodge <4> you can see churches innumerable. Why has Ld Caulfield <5> left Harrow? <6> He will be an agreeable companion for Kit <7> - Your [illegible deletion] letters are always sealed with the fragment of a centaur. Why should Bob Eden <8> go to Cambridge [illegible deletion] since his brothers were at Oxford? - Why do you prefer Oxford? I have got a stumpy pen, and can no more,
Yr Affte Son
W. H. F. Talbot
The Lady Elisth Feilding
31 Sackville St
London
Stamford 86 <9>
Notes:
1. Normanton, Rutlandshire.
2. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808-1881); WHFT's half-sister.
3. See Doc. No: 00765.
4. The farm of Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquis of Exeter. [See Doc. No: 00764].
5. Francis William Caulfeild, 2nd Earl of Charlemont (1775-1863).
6. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811-1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.
7. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803-1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT's Welsh cousin.
8. Robert John Eden, 3rd Baron Auckland (1799-1870).
9. Printed text.