TALBOT548

Harrow ¹
October 12. 1811 Saturday

My dear Mamma,

M^r Feilding ² has written me word that you are very gay at Penrice; ³ what do you amuse yourself with doing? perceive what makes Harrow such a money-spending place The other day I bought a taper box of Tin which cost 2 shillings, & yesterday by some unaccountable means it was stolen: I believe the window was open, & they got in their hands through the bars into the Study – Besides that they have taken a Guthrie’s Geography, ⁴ which was new a few days ago; I know D^r Butler ⁵ would not give me another willingly, he would impute it to carelessness, so it was in some part as I left open the window: but I did not think they would take it: I now find it is a common thing here: It seems to be practised by a few boys, who can never be found out – the other day I bought a knife, which I lent to [illegible] ⁶ of the boys, who lost it, I found I could do nothing without it, so I bought another; when the carpenter came to fit up my study, I never saw it again: & now the one I have got is the third, I have bought in a month – I should not mind these things, only I am afraid you should think me extravagant: I keep an accountbook, as well for my amusement, as to know where I spend my money which I always like to know; I see I have spend 3 l. which I never spent in 6 months at Rottingdean ⁷ –

I have a very strong magnet which M^r F– gave me, it will lift I daresay 4 ounces, whereas a common magnet will scarcely hold 2 needles; mine held 24 needles one day, as many as could touch it at once –

I wish to know whether I could send to London for a Guthrie without maps, as I have all them safe, having cut them out ready to use – Answer me quickly – that I may see if I can get a Guthrie before next Friday – when I want it

Goodbye

Y^r Aff^te Son
W.H.FTalbot

was my last letter well folded up?
I am sure this is not –
I have been puzzling how to fold it up, & dirtied it – but I have no time to clean it