Normanton, <1>
May 26th 1817.
My Dear Mamma,
I think the Guardian is become more amusing. Drakard’s Stamford Newspaper <2> copies it entire, & indeed it is a most fortunate thing for him, that this new paper has come forth, as the cessation of Cobbett’s Register <3> had reduced him to a terrible dilemma for political articles. I don’t see that either Ld Lansdowne or Ilchester <4> sent their proxies on the Catholic Question. You give me no news of Christopher. <5> If you had let C. & H. <6> sit up a quarter of an hour longer, they wd have seen Mercury – You told me nothing in your last letter, about the telescopes. I want one very much. Yesterday I took a walk to Easton; <7> do you know it? You have thence a good view of the Fen, & I hope in clear weather to see Boston Church. I suppose you may see 100 churches at the least, from the top of the tower. How is Miss O’Neill? I have read the Apostate, <8> but do not comprehend the catastrophe: however I shall consider it again. Mr Bonney <9> will be obliged to go on the 9th June, to his living at Coningsby <10> for ten days, & desires me to ask you what you wish me to do during that time – Coningsby is 50 miles from hence, & he says is the most wretched country he ever saw. I should like to go up to London for that time, or a little longer. I always have a great deal to do in London. However pray write to me soon concerning this. My seeds are thriving very well, & as to yours they are to be sent to Trevelyan. <11> I am quite tired of your Centaur, pray adopt some other device –
Yr Affte Son,
W. H. F. Talbot
[address panel:]
The Lady Elisth Feilding
31 Sackville St
London
Stamford <12>
Notes:
1. Normanton, Rutlandshire.
2. Probably a reference to Drakard’s news and general advertiser.
3. The Political Register, started in 1802 by William Cobbett.
4. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle, and Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).
5. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
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. Also called Easton-on-the Hill, Stamford.
8. See Doc. No: 00765.
9. Thomas Kaye Bonney (1782–1863), Archdeacon of Leicester.
10. Coningsby, Lincoln.
11. Walter Calverley Trevelyan, 6th Baronet (1797–1879), naturalist & antiquary.
12. Printed text.