Harrow. <1>
April 6. 1815.
My Dear Mamma,
Trevelyan <2> came to Sackville St <3> at ¼ p. 7 o’clock, & we waited very patiently for the chaise, till we were surprized by the clock’s striking eight: I then sent Richard <4> to see after it. & he succeeded in bringing it to the door at ½ p. 8. – We then went to Berkeley Square to pick up Xtopher, <5> & drink a cup of coffee. Mr Lemon, & Aunt Charlotte, <6> & Sir. C. Cole <7> were there. We then set off & arrived at Harrow without injury, except the loss of sixpence to a cheating turnpikeman, & another to the postboy, who was obliged to pay the turnpikes back, on account of his not getting there till past midnight. We arrived at Harrow at ¼ before 11, which was time enough, though the lights had been taken away – We soon got to bed & to sleep. I hope you received the letter I returned by the postboy. Pray do not let any body disarrange my things in my trunks during my absence. The things in Dr Butler’s <8> Garden have grown surprizingly, but several of the seeds are dead.
I remain. Yr Affte Son.
W. H. F. Talbot
Lady Elis. Feilding
31 Sackville St
London
Notes:
1. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811–1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.
2. Walter Calverley Trevelyan, 6th Baronet (1797–1879), naturalist & antiquary.
3. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
4. Richard, a servant.
5. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
6. Text missing at edge of page. Sir Charles Lemon (1784–1868), politician & scientist; WHFT’s uncle, and his wife Lady Charlotte Anne Lemon, née Strangways (d. 1826), WHFT’s aunt.
7. Sir Christopher Cole (1770–1836), Captain, MP & naval officer.
8. Rev George Butler (1774–1853), Headmaster at Harrow.