Harrow <1>
Nov. 21st 1814.
My dear Mamma,
I am much obliged to you for the book, which is as entertaining as I expected. I am going to study the Mosses with its help. – I have found one, which I think is very rare, as it is only mentioned to grow in Ireland. – I stayed out on Tuesday & Wednesday: & came out again on Thursday. – I am very well & so is Kit. <2> – Our declamations are to be spoken on Thursday se’nnight. The carpenter charges me, a pound, for his Chinese alterations, which is monstrously exorbitant: I did not expect more than a few shillings. I would be obliged to you to send me a pound to defray this. At the same time pray write me word what it was that you gave me in Sackville Street <3> the other day. – I think it was a pound note, & another, to pay me for what I had lent to Kit. – Pray tell me if this is correct.
I remain
Yr Affte Son
W H F Talbot. –
Lady Elisabeth Feilding
31 Sackville St
London –
Notes:
1. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811–1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.
2. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
3. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.