Harrow <1>
Wednesday July 6th
My dear Father,
I believe the holidays begin on Tuesday the 26th July When I suppose you will be at Lacock. I am glad to here <sic> that they are going to Grasmere, <2> and am very sorry to hear how You caught cold in the railway carriage. I had no hand in pulling the Prince up the hill, for I was in the school yard watching in order to get any into the speech room. But, I believe they pulled him up in great style a distance of a bout half a mile, and came up the hi steep bit to the school at a great pace. Insomuch that some police men had to steady the carriage for fear it should tumble over. I got into Speeches, and their was one of <Cannings?> do spoken by <Long?>, being an address of some member of Plymouth, <when at?> I perceived the present member of Plymouth <3> to be very much amused who was sitting opposite. I managed to find him out after-wards; and before he went away. I be Lady Valletort <4> was down too but I did not see her, as likewise Lady Abercorn, <5> and some others of her daughters whom I saw walking with the Hamiltons in the School.
Your affect son
Charles Talbot
Notes:
1. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811–1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.
2. Grasmere, Westmoreland: popular summer venue; Wordsworth is buried there.
3. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’, first elected for Plymouth May 1859 and sat until Sept. 1861 (see Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, p.388)
4. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
5. Louisa Hamilton, née Russell, Lady Abercorn (1812–1905).