Southampton
August 16
My dear Henry
My first Lieutenant Mr Powell ordered 12 jars of turtle for me at Lawes’s, <1> which turtle I find is charged at 3 guineas a quart, I wish you would go to Mr L. and tell him I never intended to buy 36 guineas worth, and as it is not paid for I must return it to him but have no objection to take 6 dozen more bottles of milk & 3 dozen of essence of coffee instead – and I understand that he has also some game pies which keep an infinite time, I should have no objection to a few of them – The usual price of dressed turtle is 14s a quart. Besides Mr Powell tells me the Egyptian turtle is as good as West Indian. – I received the sextant very safe, we have now on board ten quadrants three sextants and four chronometers which I think quite sufficient considering there are but two observers –
Pray recommend Mr Feilding <2> to come by all means to Cowes – My craft will be for four or five days to come in Itchen River near this place.
Believe me Ever Affly Yours
C R M Talbot
Cow Southampton Augt Sixteen 1826 Ilchester <3> –
H. Talbot Esqr –
31. Sackville St
London
Notes:
1. Lawes’s, Regent Street, London.
2. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
3. Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).