Harrow <1>
Sept. 29th 1814.
My dear Mamma,
I know the Tyger Lily <2>, it is very beautiful. It is neither a Lily nor an Iris, but distinct from both. Harrow agrees with me very well, & I frequently eat meat for supper, when I am inclined: not else. I drink nothing [bu]t <3> water, for the beer is very bad. - I have [no]t enquired whether any better is to be had in the place; but it is extremely inconvenient to have supper from the shops. - We are now locked into the house at six; & I never am really hungry for supper till ten, & then sometimes I get some bread & meat from the cook, at least I used to do so last winter. - Two years ago, I used to have a mutton chop every day, with E. Perceval, <4> at 4' o'clock - But since he has gone, I have not found any of my friends who will do so. I do not like to have one by myself all forlorn. I believe indeed that I do not want any more sustenance than I actually eat, for instance I fully purpose today, to celebrate St Michaels day by devouring half a goose. Christopher <5> is very well, & very well reconciled to Harrow. He is placed No 200 in the School (which now consists of 246) in the Second remove of the fourth form, where I was placed on July 13th 1811. - As to our adventures in the coach, I must reserve them till we meet, for I have described them so fully to Aunt Mary, <6> that I really cannot describe them again. While I was in Sackville St <7> I saw Mrs Feilding, Miss Feilding & Mr Hicks. <8> I am afraid that I have omitted telling you several things I intended, because I forget whether I have told you them before, or not. I hope you observed the connexion between the names Circoa & Enchanter's Nightshade <9>- I beg you will not be concerned about my eating, for I assure you my Harrow appetite is increasing fast. Our verses are excused for the capture of Washington. <10> Do you think these excasions [sic] tend to make us loyal, or ministerial? -
Your Affte Son
W. H. F. Talbot.
Lady Elisabeth Feilding
Sir J. Copley's <11>
Sprotborough
Doncaster
Yorkshire
Notes:
1. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811-1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.
2. See Doc. No: 00614.
3. Written off the edge of page.
4. Hon. Edward Perceval (1795-1840), son of 2nd Lord Arden [See Doc. No: 00569].
5. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803-1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT's Welsh cousin.
6. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776-1855), WHFT's aunt.
7. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
8. Mrs. Sophia Feilding, née Finch (1748-1815), mother of Matilda Feilding (1775-1849), WHFT's 'aunt' - sister of Charles Feilding, his stepfather; George Hicks (1772-1820), barrister at law, magistrate of police and husband of Augusta Sophia Hicks, née Feilding, sister of WHFT's step-father.
9. Circoa was actually the Genus Circaea, derived from the mythological Circe, a temptress and enchantress.
10. The British occupation of Washington, DC, August 1814.
11. Sir Joseph Copley, owner of Sprotborough Hall, Doncaster.