Penrice <1>
September 7th 1818
I left a line for the postmaster at Chester, and he forwarded your letter to this place. I had rather a tedious journey hither, owing to the wetness of the weather, and the stupidity of the coachmen & waiters. I came through Ludlow, Leominster, Hereford, Brecon, & Llandovery, to Llandilo, whence I walked over the hills to Swansea – Sir Christopher <2> is gone to attend a diner at Pyle. The sudden wet after continual dry weather, has produced a most enormous crop of mushrooms. –
Pray send me some money, for I have very little left. – There is a box of shells sent to Sackville St <3> directed to me, which I should like to have forwarded to me here as soon as possible, for I intend them for the Penrice Museum. – Will you tell Richard <4> to send them, if he is in Town?
My love to Mr Feilding, & to Car. & Hor. <5>
I remain Yr Affte Son
W. H. F.Talbot
Burley on the hill
Notes:
1. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
2. Sir Christopher Cole (1770–1836), Captain, MP & naval officer.
3. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
4. Richard, a servant.
5. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father, and his daughters 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.