Sprotborough <1>
Sepr 19th
My Dearest Henry
I found here three Letters <2> from you, & as you do not mention again having not felt quite well, I hope you have not been so. Do not take the Rhubarb pills often, as it would be a bad thing to accustom your stomach to. They should be bought at Richards's the Chemist in St James's Street, because he mixes them with Ginger, which probably Mr Forbes will not, unless particularly desired. Mr F. <3> & John both say a box of them went in your Trunk, so pray look for them & let me know. I am glad you were so prudent at Lord Northwick's <4> amidst so many temptations. How do you know that Mr Hooker <5> wants pupils? If he does it is judgement on him for not taking my Brother John, <6> & for making you go to Harrow <7> so soon. I have asked Sir Joseph Copley <8> to send his to Rottingdean, <9> but I do not think he will, tho' Lady Cecil <10> is inclined.
This is a large House agreeably situated on the banks of the river Don, which runs thro' Doncaster about two miles off. Never having been in Yorkshire before, I seem to myself so very far off, so very near the North Pole that it is quite ridiculous. I went yesterday to see a very fine ruin, Conisborough Castle, <11> it belongs to the Duke of Leeds. <12> I think I shall go there again to sketch it - I wrote to you <13> from Burley - God bless you
Yrs
E F
Mr Talbot
Revd Dr Butler's <14>
Harrow
Middlesex
Sept. 19. 1812 Sprotborough <15>
Notes:
1. Sprotborough Hall, Doncaster.
2. Letters not located.
3. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780-1837), Royal Navy; WHFT's step-father.
4. John Rushout, 2nd Lord Northwick (1770-1859).
5. 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.
6. John George Charles Fox Strangways (1803-1859), MP.
7. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811-1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.
8. Sir Joseph Copley, owner of Sprotborough Hall, Doncaster. [See Doc. No: 00577].
9. Rottingdean, East Sussex, 4 mi SE of Brighton: WHFT attended school there from 1808-1811.
10. Lady Cecil Copley (1770-1819), previously married to the Marquis of Abercorn.
11. Conisborough Castle, Yorkshire.
12. George William Frederick Osborne, 6th Duke of Leeds (1775-1838).
13. See Doc. No: 00577.
14. Rev George Butler (1774-1853), Headmaster at Harrow.
15. Written in another hand at the back of address panel.