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Result number 33 of 997:   < Back     Back to results list   Next >  

Document number: 518
Date: 13 Oct 1810
Recipient: FEILDING Elisabeth Theresa, née Fox Strangways
Author: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA10-8
Last updated: 29th January 2012

Rottingdean <1> -
October 19th 1810

My Dear Mamma,

I did not write to you before because I had forgot to ask Mr Hooker <2> your commission: he says that John <3> is about the fourth or fifth on the list, & that there is no possibility of his coming at Christmas, that very likely he may have a room for him before the Christmas after next, but that there is no telling whether he can or cannot take him before - Alkekengé blew for its fourth time today. Are you at Burley? <4> When we play at I spy I [sic], we always Hide in good places - I will shew you the best. Voici le jardin <5> all the places with a small circle in them are good hiding places [illustration]

Your affectionate Son
W. H. F. Talbot

Turn over

I am reading Don Quichotte by Florian. <6> I like it very much, I have got a Dictionary to look out the words which I do not know. I will transcribe you a passage where Don Quichotte is describing Dulcinèe [sic] de Toboso who he loves: 'L'orfin compose ses cheveux, son front resemble aux champs élysées, ses sourcils sont deux arcs-en-ciel, ses yeux des soleils, ses joues des roses, ses levres du corail, ses dents des perles, son cou fait honte à l'albâtre, son sein au marbre, ses mains à l'ivoire, son teint à la neige.' <7> We have been picking Pie-tones, which means Transparent stones some have been polished they are most beautiful stones, cornelians & opaque pebbles. I have got about 200 good ones, some of the boys have got 500 -

Goodbye -

Lady Elizabeth Feilding
31 Sackville Street
London


Notes:

1. Rottingdean, East Sussex, 4 mi SE of Brighton: WHFT attended school there from 1808-1811.

2. 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.

3. John George Charles Fox Strangways (1803-1859), MP.

4. Near Oakham, Rutland.

5. Here is the garden.

6. Jean Pierre Claris de Florian (1755-1794). A posthumous edition of his translation of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra's Don Quixote De La Manche was published in 1798 (Paris: Didot L'Aine).

7. The orphan arranges her hair, her forehead is like the Elysian fields, her eyebrows are two rainbows, her eyes suns, her cheeks roses, her lips of coral, her teeth of pearls, her neck puts alabaster and her breasts put marble to shame, her hands [shame] ivory, her complexion snow.

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