Bounds <1>
Wednesday
Dilectissime <2>
I was much surprized when I received your letter <3> this morning, to find that you did not mention in it any thing about Burrowes, <4> & beg you will let me know by return of post what ensued when he was brought back. I had heard of Alkakenge <5> before but do not remember having seen it. Cantania I am not at all acquainted with. This bad weather will spoil your garden, even the purple Hawkweed that is in a snug corner behind the Sunflower. There was a Hurricane here last night. Your Aunt Louisa & Lord Lansdowne <6> are going next Month to Sandgate <7> & I believe we shall go to Brighton in November. The post town of this place is Tunbridge not Tunbridge Wells, those two places are six miles asunder. Remember that when you direct your next Letter & Believe me
yrs affly
E Feilding
Tunbridge Sepr twelfth 1810 Lansdowne
Mr H. Talbot
Revd Mr Hooker’s <8>
Rottingdean <9>
Brighton
Bounds. Sept. 12. 1810 – <10>
Notes:
1. Near Bidborough, Kent.
2. Most delighful one.
3. See Doc. No: 00515.
4. See Doc. No: 00514.
5. Physalis Alkakengi.
6. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838, WHFT's aunt; and her husband, Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.
7. Near Folkestone, Kent.
8. Rev. Thomas Redman Hooker (1762-1838), WHFT's tutor at Rottingdean and a most interesting character. His career prospects were seemingly cut short when his father lost his fortune to an industrial accident. Hooker became the private secretary to the Duke of Dorset, learned French, took Holy Orders and through the Duke's influence established an influential school. His pupils included the nephews of the Duke of Wellington and of Napoleon Bonaparte. He was also active in the local smuggling ring. See Arthur R. Ankers, revised by Michael Smith, Sussex Cavalcade (Sevenoaks: Hawthorns Publications, Ltd., 1992), pp. 97-100.
9. Rottingdean, East Sussex, 4 mi SE of Brighton: WHFT attended school there from 1808–1811.
10. Written in another hand at the back of address panel.