Apud Brightonem
11 Februarii 1811
Cher enfant de mon Cœur
Je ne pouvois laisser écouler aujourdhui sans songer à toi, mais je ne sais si j’aurai le tems d’envoyer ma Lettre au bureau de la poste, puisque il est dejà tard. J’ai lu hier qu’un Voyageur curieux qui avoit monté sur le sommet du Pic de Teneriffe <1>, rapporta qu’étant sur ce sommet, dont la hauteur est de quinze lieues, le Soleil ne lui avoit paru guères plus grand qu’une grosse étoile, ce qui ne peut être attribué qu’au défaut des vapeurs, qui se formant bien au dessous du sommet de cette montagne, ne s’y trouvent point. Voilà un fait que j’aimerois fort vérifier des mes propres yeux, ainsi dans notre voyage au charmant isle de Timan, nous nous ferons un devoir de toucher aux Canaries.
Adieu, mon Cher, Voici Monsieur Feilding <2> qui me dit que l’auteur de ce a fait a menti en disant que le Pic de Teneriffe est de quinze Lieues de hauteur
Encore Adieu
E T Feilding
Je ne sais pourquoi les oignons de vos jacinthes de ne sont pas arrivés de Londres–
Je ne puis trouver la liste nulle part
William Henry Fox Talbot Esq
Rev Dr Hooker’s <3>
Rotting Dean
Brighton Feb – 11 – 1811 –
Translation:
at Brighton
11 February 1811
My dear sweet child,
I could not allow today to pass by without thinking of you, but I do not know if I will have time to send my Letter to the post office, since it is already late. I read yesterday that a curious Traveller who had climbed to the top of Mount Teide, that on the summit, which is fifteen leagues high, the Sun had appeared scarcely bigger than a large star, which can only be attributed to the lack of vapour, which is formed well below the peak of this mountain, so is not found there. This is a fact I would very much like to verify with my own eyes, so during our voyage to the charming isle of Timan, we will make a point of stopping off at the Canaries.
Adieu, my Dear, Mr Feilding is now telling me that the author of this has made has lied in saying that Mount Teide is fifteen leagues high.
Adieu once again
E T Feilding
I do not know why your hyacinth bulbs have not arrived from London–
I cannot find the list anywhere
William Henry Fox Talbot Esq
Rev Dr Hooker’s
Rotting Dean
Brighton Feb – 11 – 1811 –
Notes:
1. Teide Peak, volcanic peak on the island of Tenerife which stands at 12,198 feet (3,718 metres).
2. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
3. 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.