Upper Clapton.
April 29th 1830
My dear Talbot,
My accidentally mentioning your name a day or two ago drew upon me a request from my late pupil, Lord Alford, <1> which I could not very well refuse. He wishes to be invited to Lady Elisabeth Feilding's <2> ball, to which his sister & Lady Brownlow <3> are invited. If you can procure him an invitation without putting her Ladyship to any inconvenience, I shall be obliged to you: but pray do not think it necessary to attend to my request, if it will at all interfere with her arrangements.
I was very sorry not to find you at home yesterday, for I am seldom in, or near town for many successive days. Do you never visit Windsor, or its neighbourhood? I should be very glad to talk over our college days with you. I hope to leave Eton at Christmas, when I shall probably retire to some obscure curacy, and take little pupils. If you can assist me, pray do; for the cares of a married man are gathering about me in a formidable manner.
Ever, dear Talbot, Yrs very sincerely
T. K. Arnold
W. H. F. Talbot Esq
Captn Feilding's
Sackville Street
Piccadilly
Notes:
1. John Hume Brownlow (1812-1851), Viscount Alford.
2. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773-1846), WHFT's mother.
3. Lord Alford's sister was lady Sophia Frances Cust (1811-1882). Lady Sophia, née Edgcumbe (1791-1872) was the third wife of John Cust, 1st Earl Brownlow (1779-1853).