Harrow <1>
16 Sept. 1814.
My dear Mamma,
I am surprized that you say that I have not written to you for a long time; since I wrote you a very long letter <2> very lately from Penrice, <3> & another <4> from Bristol. – I have written Aunt Mary <5> a very minute account of our journey, so I cannot repeat it to you; except that we arrived very safely at Salisbury; then Uncle Harry <6> took us in his chariot to Harrow. We travelled very fast, & very pleasantly, & stayed in London from ½ past 11 till 4 on Wednesday – I looked over all my things with Mary Prior, & left some of my summer clothes behind, & took some of my winter to Harrow, but several Mary Prior & I judged too bad, & so I ordered some new ones of Mr Daniel. –
I went to St James’s to see Mrs Feilding; <7> she is much better, & was very sorry that I could not stay, & dine with her. – I am very well indeed; but I do not think that Christopher <8> is: but I hope Harrow air will make him soon well again. – He likes Dr Butler <9> very much; but & his tutor’s name is Mr Sheepshanks – He is not placed yet. – I do not think he likes being here, so much as he expected he should, & though I defend him as well as I can, yet some of the big boys very often come & teaze him. – I have let him come into my study, for Dr Butler says that he will not be able to have one of his own. – I think it extremely wrong in Dr B. to take more boys into his house, than he has studies for: because it is a very disagreeable & uncomfortable thing, not to have one. – I am much obliged to you for treating on botanical subjects, which I have not failed to answer. Give my love to Mr Feilding, <10>
Your Affte Son
W. H. F. Talbot.
Lady Elisabeth Feilding
Sir J. Copley’s <11>
Sprotborough
Doncaster
Yorkshire
Notes:
1. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811–1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.
2. See Doc. No: 00610.
3. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
4. Letter not located.
5. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776–1855), WHFT’s aunt.
6. Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).
7. Mrs. Sophia Feilding, née Finch (1748-1815), mother of Charles Feilding, WHFT's stepfather.
8. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
9. Rev George Butler (1774–1853), Headmaster at Harrow.
10. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
11. Sir Joseph Copley, owner of Sprotborough Hall, Doncaster. [See Doc. No: 00577].