Edinburgh
Thursday 28th
My dear Father
I am sorry to undeceive you on the subject of the Silver tankard. Do you remember a picture in Punch a good while ago, in which a dealer in furniture preparing is trying to sell a table to a customer, Spirit inside the table raps out, “Don’t believe him I’m only m I’m not mahogany, I’m only veneered and second hand,” so if the days of spirit rapping were not passed, my tankard might rap out, “I’m only pewter, and electroplated”!!! Great sensation
I shall try and come to Lacock on my way to Harrow. <1> I shall arrive on Tuesday, and when I have consulted Bradshaw <2> I will write again, on Saturday and tell you by what train I shall reach Chippenham <illegible deletion>. As I suppose the carriage has gone to be painted, you I hope you will send the Coburg to meet me.
N B. German is a painful study. I have been twice to see the exhibitions of modern paintings many of them exceedingly good ones.
Hoping to see you soon
I remain Your Affect Son
Charles H. Talbot
Notes:
1. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811–1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.
2. George Bradshaw (1801–1853), published a popular railway timetable from 1839.