Cambridge <1>
10th March 1820
What is become of you? You took no notice whatever of my last letter, so I have returned to the safe direction, rue du Houssaye. I wonder the more, for you know how anxious I must be to know the state of things at Paris. A friend of mine tells me that a letter he has just received from Paris seems to imply that everything is as quiet as possible, but I had much rather hear it from yourself. However I shall set off the first moment I can, which will be in a fortnight or less. Yet still I wish exceedingly to hear from you before I leave this place. The English conspiracy <2> is beginning to be forgotten in the tumult of the general election. It is odd that the Coroner is endeavouring to extenuate their crime. Lamb <3> seems losing his election for Westminster. – Gilbert Heathcote, <4> you know him? is trying for Boston, tho’ he is very ill, & canvasses by proxy: – he is at present first on the poll & I have no doubt of his return, which shews the good of trying. – I hear nothing of Sir C. Cole: <5> but from what I saw & heard in the summer, there can be no doubt of his success – Pray answer this eodem die, <6> and believe me
Your affte Son
W. H. F. Talbot.
À Miladi Elisabeth Feilding
Rue du Houssaye No 4
Paris
party rue de CliChy No 17
Notes:
1. Trinity College, Cambridge.
2. The Cato Street Conspiracy, February 1820. A Jacobite plot to murder the entire Cabinet, and kill the new king, George IV.
3. George Lamb (1784–1834), politician and writer. He was defeated in the general election of 1820.
4. Sir Gilbert Heathcote, 4th Baronet (1773–1851). He won the election for Boston.
5. Sir Christopher Cole (1770–1836), Captain, MP & naval officer.
6. On the very same day, that is, immediately.
7. 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.