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Document number: 548
Date: Sat 12 Oct 1811
Recipient: FEILDING Elisabeth Theresa, née Fox Strangways
Author: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA11-13
Last updated: 19th February 2012

Harrow <1>
October 12. 1811 Saturday

My dear Mamma,

Mr Feilding <2> has written me word that you are very gay at Penrice; <3> what do you amuse yourself with doing? perceive what makes Harrow such a money-spending place The other day I bought a taper box of Tin which cost 2 shillings, & yesterday by some unaccountable means it was stolen: I believe the window was open, & they got in their hands through the bars into the Study – Besides that they have taken a Guthrie’s Geography, <4> which was new a few days ago; I know Dr Butler <5> would not give me another willingly, he would impute it to carelessness, so it was in some part as I left open the window: but I did not think they would take it: I now find it is a common thing here: It seems to be practised by a few boys, who can never be found out – the other day I bought a knife, which I lent to [illegible] <6> of the boys, who lost it, I found I could do nothing without it, so I bought another; when the carpenter came to fit up my study, I never saw it again: & now the one I have got is the third, I have bought in a month – I should not mind these things, only I am afraid you should think me extravagant: I keep an accountbook, as well for my amusement, as to know where I spend my money which I always like to know; I see I have spend 3 l. which I never spent in 6 months at Rottingdean <7> –

I have a very strong magnet which Mr F– gave me, it will lift I daresay 4 ounces, whereas a common magnet will scarcely hold 2 needles; mine held 24 needles one day, as many as could touch it at once –

I wish to know whether I could send to London for a Guthrie without maps, as I have all them safe, having cut them out ready to use – Answer me quickly – that I may see if I can get a Guthrie before next Friday – when I want it

Goodbye

Yr Affte Son
W.H.FTalbot

was my last letter well folded up?
I am sure this is not –
I have been puzzling how to fold it up, & dirtied it – but I have no time to clean it


Notes:

1. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811–1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.

2. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.

3. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.

4. Probably William Guthrie, A new geographical, historical and commercial grammar and present state of the several kingdoms of the world (1805). [See Doc. No: 00541].

5. Rev George Butler (1774–1853), Headmaster at Harrow.

6. Text obscured by ink blot.

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

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