Normanton, <1>
Febry 16th 1817.
My Dear Mamma,
I thank you for you long letter. I find by the Papers that an Aurora Borealis of uncommon splendour was seen at Derby, & at Paris on the night of Saturday, which with us was very cloudy, yet whenever there was a break in the clouds, the sky appeared as if enlightened by a full moon, which was universally noticed in the neighbourhood. The papers also affirm that the same phænomenon was observed more faintly on Sunday night - which I deny, inasmuch as the light was in the West, & therefore cd not be occasioned by an Aurora Borealis -
What an extraordinary thing the sudden death of Lord Rothes <2> was - Pray assist Caroline <3> in retaining all her knowledge. The squib about Ld Arden <4> is very safe: & I will send it, if you want it - I think Normanton is very pleasant, & am as comfortable as can be - Mr Bonney's <5> family consists of his sister & his cousin. I like Miss Bonney extremely, but her cousin is nearly as repulsive as Miss Elborough <6> in her manners - The angular velocity of a planet perhaps means the different angles it [illustration] makes in its progress with two fixed objects - Thus a planet at C makes with the points A and B the angle ACB - but when it comes to D, the angle is changed to ADB - I can think of no other explanation - The weather is the finest ever known, for the season -. We had some Snow, but it melted next Day. Mr Bonney has neither Barometer nor Thermometer, so I shall not use your Meteorological Tables this year - I could plant Ixia's in Sir G. Heathcote's <7> Greenhouse. I can see from my window the steeple of Cold Overt[on]<8> which is in Leicestershire - The Sheriff for Rutlandshire is Mr Baines of Morcott, who is said to be the worst sheriff that was ever appointed for any County<9> - I am rejoiced to hear of the parcel, for I expect to see some beautiful plates - Mr Bonney's brother<10> who has the living of Kingscliffe, nine miles from hence, dined here Friday - I took a great liking to him immediately. He is a great Antiquarian. Tell Mr F. <11> that my little spy-glass shews Venus's disc, which proves it to be a very good one of its size - Did you communicate to Richard my one page about mud-boots? I saw Vindemiatrix and Corona Borealis!!!!<12>
I see Burley <13> from my window,
I remain Yr Affte Son
W. H. F. Talbot
The Lady E. Feilding
31 Sackville St
London
Notes:
1. Normanton, Rutlandshire.
2. George Leslie, 13th Earl of Rothes (1768-1817), who was taken ill whilst on horseback and died suddenly on 11 February.
3. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808-1881); WHFT's half-sister.
4. Charles George Perceval, 2nd Baron Arden (1756-1840), politician and antiquary.
5. Thomas Kaye Bonney (1782-1863), Archdeacon of Leicester.
6. Probably Elbelle, governess. [See Doc. No: 00719].
7. Sir Gilbert Heathcote, 4th Baronet (1773-1851).
8. Thomas Falkner Baines, Sheriff of Rutland, 1817.
9. Text missing.
10. Henry Kaye Bonney (1780-1862), Archdeacon of Lincoln.
11. Charles Feilding (1780-1837), Royal Navy; WHFT's step-father.
12. Vindemiatrix (the grape-gatherer), star in the consellation Virgo and Corona Borealis (the Northern Crown), a small northern constellation.
13. Burley, Stamford.