Castleford, <1>
September 21st 1816.
My Dear Mamma,
I went to Pomfret Races each day, & was very much amused. The last day’s sport was particularly good. I intend to go & see the St Leger run for at Doncaster the day after tomorrow; – Forty-six horses are entered to run, & it is said that most of them will run – Ld Milton’s <2> Maritoines is the favourite – I know a gentleman who has a bet of 100 gs to Ten, with a certain Black Legs that Maritoines does not win. The other day I saw a foot race round Pomfret race ground between Joseph Beale the Yorkshire hero, & Isaac Brierley the Lancashire favourite, which was won by the Yorkshireman 220 yds with great ease. A great many Lancashire men had come from home to witness the trial of swiftness between the two counties, but when they found their champion was defeated, they all deserted him, & left him to beg his way home. The circuit of the course is two miles, this was run by the winner in 10 minutes and 10 seconds – There was an excellent race at Pomfret between Ld Scarborough’s <3> Hurricane and Mr Lambton’s <4> Silences. Hurricane won by only half a head. Yesterday I took a very long ride; I went to Leeds, thence to Wakefield, & so home. I went partly up Wakefield Church; – It has a handsome Spire, 234 feet high. I went up 120 ft. by 160 steps. The weather is very changeable, we never have two days the least alike. I am very well – As for Nuttall, he says he is going away, because Baring teases him. Gordon is soon going back to Cambridge: the vacation being nearly expired. I don’t like Baring particularly. He is so very idle: Is not Bruton <5> the post Town to Redlynch? <6> Is Miss Elborough <7> with my sisters now? I think you must find it very dull at Redlynch –
I remain, Yr Affte Son
W. H. F. Talbot
Lady Elisabeth Feilding
Redlynch
Wincaunton
Somerset
Notes:
1. Castleford, Yorkshire, 10 mi SE of Leeds, where WHFT went to school from 1815-1816.
2. Charles William Fitzwilliam, 5th Earl Fitzwilliam of Ireland and 3rd Earl Fitzwilliam of England, later Viscount Milton (1786–1857).
3. Frederick Lumley-Saville, Earl of Scarborough (1788–1837).
4. John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham (1792–1840).
5. Bruton, Somerset.
6. Redlynch, Somerset, seat of the Earls of Ilchester (Barons of Redlynch).
7. Probably Elbelle, governess. [See Doc. No: 00751].