Malvern <1>
11th May
My Dearest
What can be the reason you do not write as often as you did. I miss your Letters very much. Since I wrote last the Horse Chesnuts are come out & the Birch & Lime Trees, as well as Sycomore [sic] but nothing else. I find in the “History & Antiquities of Asia” <2> that May Day is kept by the Hindoos, & that they assemble in gardens & visit a Pole which they adorn with garlands. It is odd enough the same custom should prevail in two such distant Nations. There is a fine old Church <3> here dans le genre gothique <4>, it is the remains of a Monastery. Cet edifice est imposant & très bien conservé. <5> I actually walked to the top of the hill last Wednesday, don’t you think that was a great feat for me? I was so tired I have been resting ever since. I forget whether I told you that Mr Feilding <6> walked from Chepstow to Ross, <7> 29 Miles, by the banks of the Wye & saw Tintern Abbey <8> &c &c, a pretty good day’s performance, n’est-ce pas? <9> –
Tuesday May 12th
Your important Letter <10> is just come, it is a great event you tell me of, & an unfortunate one for you & for Ld Brudenell <11> you have lost a companion that I regret very much, as I think he had been better brought up at home than most boys, & he has lost an excellent Master in Dr Butler. <12> I suppose Lord Cardigan would have preferred Dr Corey’s<13> easiness who lets the boys stay away as long as they like, but which will not in the end redound to the honour of Westminster School. I am sorry Lord Cardigan was so much too hasty & I dare say by this time he is sorry himself. Audi alteram partem <14> is an excellent maxim, I am glad you followed it for otherwise you could not have been just in the opinion you formed of who was right & [who?] <15> was wrong in this affair. I wish it had been any other boy in the school. Tell me how you like his successor in your room. My head is so full of Lord Brudenell I can think of nothing else. Was he a clever boy? Pray tell me the names of your five chief friends. I long to hear from you again
Believe me affly yours
E T F
Selkirk Villa <16> was the right direction to Jane <17>
W. H. F. Talbot Esqr
Revd Dr Butler’s
Harrow <18>
Middlesex
[Written in another hand at the back of address panel:]
Malvern May 11th 1812
Notes:
1. Malvern, or Great Malvern, 9 mi SW of Worcestershire.
2. Possibly the periodical Asiatick researches: or, transactions of the Society, instituted in Bengal, for inquiring into the history and antiquities, the arts, sciences, and literature, of Asia, first published in 1788. Or, possibly Sir William Jones's Dissertations and miscellaneous pieces relating to the history and antiquities, the arts, sciences, and literature of Asia (London: Vernor & Hood, 1796).
3. Great Malvern Priory, Parish Church of St Mary and St Michael.
4. In the Gothic style.
5. This building is imposing and very well preserved.
6. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
7. Chepstow Castle, Monmouthshire, southeast Wales to Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire. [See Doc. No: 00546].
8. Tintern Abbey, River Wye valley, southeast Wales. It was founded for Cistercian monks in 1131.
9. Isn’t it? don’t you think?
10. See Doc. No: 00567.
11. James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan (1797–1868). He was expelled from Harrow School in May 1812. [See Doc. No: 00567].
12. Rev George Butler (1774–1853), Headmaster at Harrow.
13. Dr William Carey (1769-1846), Headmaster of Westminster School 1803-1814, later Bishop of Exeter and then of St Asaph.
14. Hear the other side.
15. Text torn away under seal.
16. Selkirk Villa, Cheltenham.
17. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).
18. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811–1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.