Harrow <1>
March 24. 1814.
Ma chère Maman,
Il y a si long temps que je n’ai ecrit du François, que je crois l’avoir beaucoup perdu. J’ai recu le billet de Banque que vous m’avez envoyé, tout sain. Je reçois le Morning Chronicle <2> chaque jour, mais il ne contient point des nouvelles si neuves que le Courier. <3> Je crois que la glace est tout à fait disparue, mais la neige reste encore, et restera jusqu’à Juillet. Nous avons semé de la graine de Moutarde et de cresson; elle à commencé germer. Nous avons eu hier un petit souper, c'est à dire, nous pupilles – Je ne crois pas rester ici jusqu’au Mercredi; mais peut être je le ferai. Demain, est la fête Notre dame <4>, et les portes de la maison ne seront pas fermées comme auparavant à six heures, mais à huit. Quand mes cousines arriveront elles à Londres?
Votre fils affectionné
W. H. F. Talbot
Lady Elisabeth Feilding
31 Sackville St.
London
Translation:
Harrow
March 24th 1814.
My dear Mama,
I have not written in French for so long that I think that I have forgotten a great deal of it. I have received the Banknote which you sent me, safe and sound. I receive the Morning Chronicle every day, but the news which it contains is not as recent as that in the Courier. I think that the ice has completely disappeared but the snow is still there, and will remain until July. We have sown Mustard and cress seeds; they have begun to sprout. Yesterday we had a small supper, that is to say, we pupils – I do not think that I will stay here until Wednesday; but perhaps I shall. Tomorrow is the feast of Our Lady, and the doors of the house will not be shut at six o’clock as in the past, but at eight. When will my cousins arrive from London?
Your affectionate son
W. H. F. Talbot
Notes:
1. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811–1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.
2. Morning Chronicle.
3. Broadsheet newspaper.
4. The Feast of Our Lady’s Annunciation.