TALBOT518

Rottingdean ¹ -
October 19^th 1810

My Dear Mamma,

I did not write to you before because I had forgot to ask M^r Hooker ² your commission: he says that John ³ is about the fourth or fifth on the list, & that there is no possibility of his coming at Christmas, that very likely he may have a room for him before the Christmas after next, but that there is no telling whether he can or cannot take him before - Alkekengé blew for its fourth time today. Are you at Burley? ⁴ When we play at I spy I [sic], we always Hide in good places - I will shew you the best. Voici le jardin ⁵ all the places with a small circle in them are good hiding places [illustration]

Your affectionate Son
W. H. F. Talbot

Turn over

I am reading Don Quichotte by Florian. ⁶ I like it very much, I have got a Dictionary to look out the words which I do not know. I will transcribe you a passage where Don Quichotte is describing Dulcinèe [sic] de Toboso who he loves: 'L'orfin compose ses cheveux, son front resemble aux champs élysées, ses sourcils sont deux arcs-en-ciel, ses yeux des soleils, ses joues des roses, ses levres du corail, ses dents des perles, son cou fait honte à l'albâtre, son sein au marbre, ses mains à l'ivoire, son teint à la neige.' ⁷ We have been picking Pie-tones, which means Transparent stones some have been polished they are most beautiful stones, cornelians & opaque pebbles. I have got about 200 good ones, some of the boys have got 500 -

Goodbye -

Lady Elizabeth Feilding
31 Sackville Street
London