Harrow <1>
Nov. 4th 1813.
My dear Mamma,
On account of the great news, we are to have fireworks on the cricket ground tomorrow, which will be paid for, by a subscription among the boys. Most of us subscribe half a guinea. They have sent to London about it. The News came yesterday evening, it delighted us beyond measure – We expect to have a second edition of the retreat of the Ten Thousand; <2> printed by Buonaparte, <3> from the original manuscript of Xenophon. We have had more exercises excused for good news this halfyear, than I ever before remember. We shall not have to write many verses in the book during the holidays I hope: it only wants 1 month to them. I hope we shall be at Melbury <4> – Dr Butlers <5> improvements are not nearly finished yet. Has Aunt Louisa <6> many nice flowers at Bowood? <7> Dr Butlers greenhouse is to be very small indeed, yet he says it will hold 300 plants – Pray tell Mr Feilding <8> that I want some more money, for this 10s 6d subscription has exhausted my purse, together with a bad 5s 6d piece which I have got. – I have finished [illegible] which I was reading. I am very expert at playing marbles, when I am in the humour for it. I do not play football this year. – There are here two boys called OBrien. –
Yr Affte Son
WHFTalbot –
Novbr 7th
Our Fireworks were put off till Saturday the 13th which happened because none were to be got in London, and no faggots were to be had for our bonfire. I suppose next Saturday night we shall have everything in high stile, if it is fine weather. This postponement was very lucky for me, as I was not well on Friday night, so I must have gone without seeing them after all my subscription. I am not quite recovered yet, I hope I shall be tomorrow. –
Lady Elizabeth Feilding
Bowood
Calne
Wiltshire
Notes:
1. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811–1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.
2. Xenophon, Anabasis – The Expedition of Cyrus into Persia; and the Retreat of the Ten Thousand Greeks (London: 1813). This was the third edition and the most relevant to the date of this letter.
3. Napoleon I, Emperor of France (1804–1814/1815).
4. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.
5. Rev George Butler (1774–1853), Headmaster at Harrow.
6. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), wife of Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838; WHFT's aunt.
7. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
8. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.