St James's Palace -
Oct 31st
My dst Henry -
I Should Long Ago have writ to You but I know you will sorry [sic] to hear that my Hindrance has been - my dear Mother having been very Suffering & Ill at Different Times<1> - so that tho' almost Always at home - yet I had no time But for her - I hope - my dear - you like Harrow <2> - Absence from Friends who are so affectionate as Yours are to You is always a little unpleasant - But when any one is under Endcation [sic] It must be so - & I am convinced You are very fortunate in being under the Care & Tuition of Dr Butler <3> - who has so high a Character. I cannot - myself - but feel very partial to him & in Gratitude to him for his Goodness to George Finch <4> while he was at Harrow - I have been writing to Dear Ly Elisth <5> - I saw Mr Feilding <6> - after I had ye Pleasure of seeing You - He dined with us twice before he went North - I shall be Glad when your Holidays arrive (now you have made Gt Way in your 3 months at School - They will soon come) For your Holidays must be happy to you - Especially your first after so long an Absence fm home - I hope we shall have some Games at Chess - perhaps you will soon beat me - Tho' I have been often successful Lately - Monsr Bourblanc - a French Gentleman (tho' now a teacher of Chess) Says - "Women never can play so well as Men at Chess" - a poor Encouragement to our Weak Endeavour! Do you remember - how cruelly we were twice prevented continuing our Games at Chess by ye Dss of R - Miss Coleman &c &c? - My Brother tells me that George Finch constantly now beats him - & he has often Check mated me - I think he will play well - I find Robert Fitzgerald <7> intends being a Clergyman - I hope it will succeed to him - I think it a very Serious undertaking - For tho' sorry One ought to be as Good as they can - Yet one who Engages in so Sacred a Service shd be particulerly [sic] correct - & when they are so I think they are happier than any Body! I suppose you have look'd at ye comet often<8>
- the novelty of it in the Heavens appears a Gt Wonder - & it has at times Appear'd beautiful - I sometimes of a Night - Contemplate the Stars fm my North Room - & Some times read abt them - of course - when we recollect Mr Bourblanc's observation on ye poor Ladies on Simple Chess - so can not I wonder - I am often bewilder'd - in this more Sublime Study - Being now in ye unfortunate State of wishing for (or rather Claiming) 2 more Points to ye Compass - which I think we ought to have - For (You know how our Rooms Lay) - Why am I sent from our North to our South Aspect - Horizontally - when at ye Same Time I am told North is above me - South under my feet? - You see here my dr H. what a woman's Stargazing comes to: However I would have 2 names ready if you wd procure for me ye 2 additions I wish for - I am my dr Henry yr affte
Henria Finch
Miss F's Room North looking to Pall Mall St J St&c <9>
[illustration] Blue Room Back Room
Ld G F's 2 Rooms
Looking South to ye Gt Court St James's <10>
P.S. I shall not expect an Answer to my Letter - As I hope at Least you will be to [sic] Go thro' London when you Leave Harrow
Henry Talbot Esqr
The Revd Dr Butler's
Harrow-on-the Hill
Middlesex
[postmark verso:]
St James's
October 31st
1811
Notes:
1. Lady Charlotte Finch, née Fermor (1725-1813), daughter of the 2nd Earl of Pomfret.
2. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811-1815 and his son Charles attended from 1855-1859.
3. Rev George Butler (1774-1853), Headmaster at Harrow.
4. George Finch (1794-1870), JP & MP.
5. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773-1846), WHFT's mother.
6. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780-1837), Royal Navy; WHFT's step-father.
7. Robert George Fitzgerald (1795-1812).
8. The 1811 comet was one of eight 'Great Comets' in the 19th century. Visible over a span of nine months, it had reached its peak brightness by October. The comet captured worldwide public attention and was cited by Tolstoi in his War and Peace.
9. Pall Mall and St. James Street. The 9th Earl of Winchilsea had rooms at St. James Palace.
10. The Great Court of St. James's Palace.