The mourning is very general & deep in this place: little but black is to be seen, except the dingy purple of a Trinity gown. St Mary's Church was exceedingly crowded this afternoon, there could not have been less than between 4 & 500 undergraduates present, all in black, so that, the pulpit &c. being also hung with black cloth, the effect was very sombre - The Greek Professor, our lecturer, has requested us to compose odes, elegies &c. &c. in Greek, Latin, or English upon the subject of the P.ss C's death, <1> which I think is in him bad taste, for real sorrow thinks not of writing verses - I am sorry you cut out of the paper a composition of this kind, which appeared the other day, as also an anagram.
I began to write something last night, but cd not satisfy myself at all: - Indeed you must feel that a more difficult subject could hardly be proposed, when the papers have exhausted all that can be said, & moreover deluged us with the vilest trash under the title of "sincere burst of feeling" &c - The little cadeau <2> you sent me was very acceptable. I intend to write to you more at length tomorrow, but at present the Post is just setting out.
I remain Yr Affte Son
W. H. F. Talbot
[address panel:]
AMBRIDGE<3>
The Lady Elisabeth Feilding
31 Sackville St
London
Notes:
1. The death of Princess Charlotte (1796-1817), daughter of George IV, Prince Regent, later King of England.
2. Present.
3. Printed text.