Harrow <1>
October 14 1815
My dear Henry,
Butler <2> has just received a letter from you, saying that some one (I do not know who) was surprized at not having received a letter from me I suppose it must have been you, for I wrote letters to every one else 3 or 4 to Mamma, & to Mary <3> &c. but I do not perceive why you should be so anxious after my health. He tells me to direct to Lord. Winchilsea's, <4> Burley. -
I am in pretty good favour with old Harry, he calls me a shuffler because I forget to write my exercises in time. - Butler told me particularly to write to you and tell you of my health, and I think it must be some mistake, because I do not see how any one at Burley should care for my health I ought to be doing my verses now so I cannot say much. - Caulfeild <5> is writing a letter home also
I have had the Mumps very bad, and that was the reason I did not write sooner than I did. I will give you a listg of, the new fellows names
| Oxenham jr. <6> | Baillie <7> | Hunter <8> | |
| Estcourt <9> jr. | Martin <10> jr | Williams <11> | |
| Somerville <12> jr | Locke <13> | Count Paullus- | |
| Bullwer <14> | Meyrick <15> | - Alexander - | } Sons of the Russian Ambassador |
| May <16> | Hobhouse <17> | -Peter - | |
| Clayton <18> | two Crommelins <19> | - &c &c | |
| Smith <20> min! | Graham <21> | ||
| Luttrell <22> | Codrington <23> | ||
| Strickland <24> |
I have nothing more to say, as this letter was meant chiefly to inform you that I am well.
I am My dear Henry Your Affectionate Cousin
Christopher
From C R M Talbot
W. H. F. Talbot Esqr
Earl of Winchilsea's
Burley
Notes:
1. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811-1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.
2. Rev George Butler (1774-1853), Headmaster at Harrow.
3. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776-1855), WHFT's aunt, and Mary Thereza Talbot (1795-1861), WHFT's cousin.
4. George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea (1752-1826).
5. Francis William Caulfeild, 2nd Earl of Charlemont (1775-1863).
6. William Oxenham (d. 1863), Assistant Master at Harrow School 1826-1863.
7. George Baillie, 10th Earl of Haddington (d. 1870), High Commissioner to the Church of Scotland 1867-1868.
8. Possibly Hunter who entered Harrow in September 1816 and left in 1818.
9. James Bucknall-Estcourt (d. 1855), General of British Army in the Crimea and MP for Devizes 1848-1852.
10. Richard Martin (d. 1888), clergyman.
11. William Augustus Williams, son of Williams of Nassau, New Providence, West Indies.
12. James Richard Somerville (d. 1869), Captain 2nd Dragoon Guards.
13. Wadham Locke (d. 1896), JP Wiltshire.
14. Henry Lytton Earle Bulwer (d. 1872), diplomat and author.
15. Meyrick, attended Harrow from 1814 to 1819.
16. Charles May, soldier.
17. Edward Isaac Hobhouse (d. 1854), Captain Coldstream Guards and Gentleman Usher to Queen Victoria.
18. Matthew Clayton (d. 1867), solicitor.
19. George Russell Crommelin (d. 1844), Major 1st Bengal Cavalry, and his brother James Arden (d. 1893), Lt Colonel.
20. Augustus John Smith (d. 1872), politician.
21. George Graham (d. 1888), Registrar-General.
22. Francis Wynne Fownes-Luttrell (d. 1820).
23. Edward Codrington, entered Royal Navy and drowned in the Mediterranean on 16 November 1819.
24. Walter Strickland (d. 1870), JP Oxon.