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Result number 66 of 997:   < Back     Back to results list   Next >  

Document number: 567
Date: Thu 07 May 1812
Recipient: FEILDING Elisabeth Theresa, née Fox Strangways
Author: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA12-11
Last updated: 8th March 2011

Harrow <1>
May 7. 1812 –
Thursday

My dear Mamma,

I am pretty successful at chess – Altogether, I & Mr Perceval <2> have played 24 Games, of which I have won 12 and he 12 – At present he is slow and sure – This morning being an holiday, I gave a grand breakfast to five of my chief friends – I did not give one all last time – I now come to the interesting part of my letter; you must know, that Lord Brudenell had obtained leave on last Saturday evening, to go home & return on Monday morning; he happened to sprain his hand,<3> and as the surgeon did not come to see him, till 2 oclock on Monday afternoon, he did not think it worth while to return to Harrow that evening; & supposing Tuesday to be an holiday, he staid till Wednesday morning, and brought an excuse about his hand, which Dr Butler <4> not choosing to receive, set him two eclogues of Virgil (160 Lines) to learn by heart; by return of the chaise he came in, he sent a letter to his father, telling him of his punishment – The same evening the same chaise returned with a letter to Dr Butler, saying that as he did not choose to receive the excuse, Lord Brudenell must leave the School!!! & accordingly in an hour & an half he left Harrow never to return – Dr Butler forgot the character of a gentleman, & could not master his passions, but even insulted him – this example will most likely be soon followed; & there could not be a more deadly blow to Dr Butlers interests – Do not you think Lord Cardigan <5> a great deal too hasty? I have lost a friend in Ld Brudenell, & I shall feel it some time – One never knows the value of a thing, till p one possesses it no longer – I have received a letter from Jane <6> but I am not sure whether to direct Selkirk Villa Cheltenham would be right

Yr Affte Son
W. HFTalbot <7>

I think of nothing but the late transaction – Write to me your opinion about it – It was too hasty of Ld Cardigan, for he should have written desiring that his son should be excused, at most. On the other hand Dr Butler seems to have a sort of pleasure in punishing as we have lately had, I am sorry to say, too many examples, or it is a mistaken strictness – However towards me his conduct is always uniformly kind and goodnatured

I shall write again very soon, at present I half think it all a dream, it has happened all so quickly – He returned at 9 A.M. yesterday & left Harrow at ½ past 8 P.M –


Notes:

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

2. Hon. Edward Percevel (1795-1840), son of 2nd Lord Arden.

3. James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan (1797–1868), who later led The Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War. His sprained hand was recorded as resulting from a fist fight, a practise then permitted at Harrow School.

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

5. Robert Brudenell, 6th Earl of Cardigan (1769–1837).

6. Jane Harriot Nicholl, nιe Talbot (1796–1874).

7. WHFT seems to emphasise here the ‘W.’ then ‘HFTalbot’, making sure to keep them separate. He was probably trying to get his mother and other family connections to call him ‘William’ rather than ‘Henry’: this was either a battle he lost or one that his youthful mind changed on.

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