The Grove Harrow <1>
Saturday
My dear Papa
I cannot yet find out when the holidays begin, but it will be in about 3 or four or five weeks time. Thursday was speech days & I was very much amused. Of course we do not hear the speeches on speech day, but we go to rehersals which is quite as good. They say it was not near so good as last time, when Prince Albert was there We have a holiday today & nearly all the school go their “exeat” I did not see Mr Sotheron, <2> I suppose he did not come.
There is a grand match going on, at the cricket ground, but I am fagging <3> & cannot go to see it this morning. We have a grand view from our window you can see St Pauls & the crystal Palace. <4> I believe that Mr Scott will not come after all & that Mr Holmes who is one of the Masters, will take the pupil-room. I am under Mr Steel <5> in mathematics. I am afraid I shall not get my remove this quarter, that is to say, I think they will give the whole form their remove & then move all the forms a step back. I don’t understand the reason why.
I Remain
Your affectionate son
Charles Henry Talbot
Notes:
1. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811–1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.
2. Thomas Henry Sutton Sotheron Bucknall Estcourt (1801–1876), MP.
3. Performing menial tasks for the senior boys.
4. Designed by Joseph Paxton for the 1851 Great Exhibition of Industry of all Nations, this building quickly became the icon of this world exhibition, so much so that it is often known as the Crystal Palace Exhibition.
5. Rev Thomas Henry Steel (1806–1881), tutor.