Harrow <1>
July 21st 1815.
My Dear Mamma,
Your letter is rather Laconic: for you do not say whether you have n any objection to my plan. I do not suppose it will make any difference in the day I leave Harrow, for I had much rather wait till Tuesday, than hurry away on Monday. I am very sorry that I am not to see you for any time, before I go to Penrice <2>- pray write me an explicit account of what is to become of me, for I wish to know Exceedingly. - I obtained a prize this morning, it was, Cicero de Naturâ Deorum. <3> - I should like very much to be confirmed in the Holidays.- We were tried in Latin yesterday; - our Trial this time being Four of Juvenals Satires, <4> & lots of Pindar. <5> - We all did pretty well, for he was easy.- Kit <6> is to be placed tomorrow; so you may desire Sir C. L. <7> when he comes, to offer up a hecatomb <8>to Jove, for his success. I have no doubt he will "get in" very high. I have as usual nothing to say, except to repeat that, (important personage as you may think me) It is of great importance to me to know what I am going to do, & be done with.
I remain,
Yr Affte Son,
W H F Talbot
The Lady Elisabeth Feilding
31 Sackville St
London
Notes:
1. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811-1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.
2. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
3. Marcus Tullius Cicero, De Naturâ Deorum (44 AD).
4. Decimus Junis Juvenalis, Satires (ca. 120 AD).
5. Pindar (ca. 518-438 BC), Greek poet.
6. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803-1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT's Welsh cousin.
7. Sir Charles Lemon (1784-1868), politician & scientist; WHFT's uncle.
8. A sacrifice.