[printed notepaper:]
Merstham
Red Hill
Surrey
Monday Feby 3rd/68
My dear Father,
I intend to come to Lacock on Wednesday next the 5th instant. If by any chance however I do not turn up, do not be surprised, as I might be asked to stay longer.
We have been quite a political party in this house, with Sir John & Judy[?] Packington [sic]a class="ref" title="Link to note at foot of this page" name="jjp09321-back" href="#jjp09321"><1> & General Peel. <2> Lord and Lady Sefton have also been here and went today. Lady Sefton is Lord Hylton’s <3> daughter. Lord Sefton is an amusing man in his manner of talking. There were others of whose names I am not quite certain. our weather yesterday and today has been very fine. – I got a letter from Ela <4> which you forwarded. – They complain of not receiving enough correspondence from us in those parts. A letter of mine however to Rosamund must I should think have been about due there when she wrote. I took Swainson <5> with me to hear Farrars <6> lecture at the Royal Institution <7> and we were much interested. He spoke well and looked a fatter and happier man than he used to be when I was at Harrow. – He did not however tell us much that was new. – He wants to have education in Science more especially. – I understand that now at Harrow the writing of Latin verses is no longer compulsory. – That is a considerable step. – You will have seen in the papers more notices and paragraphs about the disappearance of Mr Speke. <8> The general impression seems to be that he has been murdered, but I believe that Sir Richard Mayne <9> maintains that that is not probable. – It is a most mysterious dissappearance
This house is prettily situated and there are some nice cedars. The style of the building is mainly classical, and I like its place internally. – There is a very fine collection of china and a large mug and I believe the pictures are good. – They have a railway station here. – On Sunday I walked into Red-Hill. The situation and the hills in their natural condition are very pretty, but the buildings are very bad and spoil the country.
Your affect son
Charles
[envelope:]
H Fox Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chipenham
Notes:
1. Sir John Somerset Pakington (1799 – 1880), Conservative MP for Droitwich (1837 –1874); secretary for war, 1867, retaining office until Disraeli’s resignation in December 1868.
2. Jonathan Peel (1799–1879), Conservative MP and patron of the turf, secretary for war under Lord Derby, 1858 and 1866, resigning from office in 1867 rather than support Disraeli’s scheme of reform.
3. William George Hylton Jolliffe (1800–1876), Conservative MP, Petersfield (1833–1835 and 1837–1866), secretary to the treasury and conservative whip (1858–1859); created 1stBaron Hylton, 1866.
4. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
5. A friend of Charles from Trinity College, Cambridge.
6. John Farrar (1802–1884); chaplain and governor of Woodhouse Grove school (1858–1868), first governor of Headingley College, Leeds (1868–1876).
7. Albemarle Street, London, founded in 1799.
8. Rev Benjamin Speke. [See Doc. No: 09533].
9. Sir Richard Mayne (1796–1868), police commissioner.