Harrow <1>
Sept. 12. 1812. –
My dear Mamma,
The number of boys is decreased from 196 to 192 but I daresay there will be 200 in a week or two – I have got a method of keeping account of what I spend, so that as yet, there has not been a mistake of a halfpenny – What sort of a place is Sprotborough? I am about the 68th boy at Harrow – My trial for the fifth form is not yet set – Mr Phipps’s name is now Lord Normanby <2> – We have a new boy called Sir James Ramsay, <3> our only baronet – today is a whole holiday, on account of some victory, I believe. Do you intend to write the rest of my verses in the book while I am at school? – Smiths Botany <4> interests me very much – I believe there will be no cricket this school time –
Yr Affte Son
WHFTalbot.
Turn Over
A riddle of mine
1
I’m a round circle, and a circling round,
When urged I quickly run along The ground,
Yet if not urged I lazily lie still
Nor can you ever make me run up hill,
I’ve said enough to find me if you will -
Anagram of mine
A Chin 2
A Glee 3
Words 4
Cheap 5
Lemon 6
Pear 7
Green Ash 8
Dear Pol came 9
Underneath are the solutions backwards that you need not read them unless you like it –
1. Hoop
2. China
3. Eagle
4. Sword
5. Peach
6. Melon
7. Reap. Pare.
8. Shagreen
9. Cameleopard.
I have just cast up my accounts, the year being completed, when they stand thus –
| Received in the year. | Spent in the year. |
| 30. 10. 6 | 24. 9. 6 |
I had not time to call on the Crosbies or Mrs Feilding, <5> while I was in town –
Today as I was walking with two of Mr Percevals sons, I met Lord Northwick, <6> who knowing them very well, and me a little, took us into the his garden and feasted us on cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums, green gages, and figs – Perhaps you will think I shall be ill, but I only eat [sic] a peach, a green gage, and half a fig –
Today I called on Mrs Edwards but she was not at home.
Sept 13. 1812 –
Mr Conyngham <7> preached us a very good Lesson today. I am writing with a crow quill –
Today I saw Ld Northwick, & Mr and Mrs Hamilton walking –
Dr Hooker <8> is in want of pupils, I hope you will be able to procure him some – Pray try
Lady Elisabeth Feilding
Sprotborough
Doncaster
Yorkshire
Notes:
1. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811–1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.
2. Constantine Henry Phipps, 1st Marquess of Normanby (1797–1863).
3. He was probably the brother of Sir George Ramsay (1800–1871), philosophical writer, who succeeded his brother, Sir James on 1 January 1859, and of William Ramsay (1806–1865), professor of humanity at Glasgow University.
4. Sir James Edward Smith, Compendium Floræ Britannicæ (London: 1800).
5. Mrs. Sophia Feilding, née Finch (1748-1815), mother of Charles Feilding, WHFT’s step-father.
6. Sons of Spencer Perceval (1762-1812), British Prime Minister 1809-1812. John Rushout, 2nd Lord Northwick (1770–1859).
7. Clergyman. [See Doc. No: 00570].
8. 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.