Corsham House <1>
Monday
Dear Talbot
Had I not been obliged to discipline myself a little to day in consequence of the fatigues of the Assizes I should have called upon you on the subject of some young men at Lacock whom I hear you could persuade to enter my Troop of yeoman.
Unless you have thought of raising one yourself you would be doing the county I think, some service in assistn to complete mine and I shall feel much obliged to you for any strong yeomn down this way
We are getting on vy well but prefer waiting for better, instead of taking moderately fine men and I have no doubt of our being in consequence of this delay by far the finest Troop in the County
We have now betwn 40 and 50 Privates our compliment is 60. We have some comig in evy day and as I have now heard fm Ld Lansdown <2> that Government allows us annually thirty shilling for each man dress and thirty more for contingent expences their dress will soon be paid for.
I have little doubt with your assistce we shall be full in a few days, or immediately
Believe me Your Ty
Paul Methuen
Ld Lansdowne promised to speak to you on the subject if he saw you
PS I should mention also we escape to home duty and [illegible] of course. I suppose. I propose going to Brighton on Friday, if I can get away and if you have any thing to send as I bet Ly Elizabeth <3> is there I shall be happy to take or bring – Game or ayth
Notes:
1. Corsham Court, Wiltshire, 3 mi NW of Lacock: seat of Ld Methuen.
2. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.
3. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.