TALBOT552

S^t James's Palace -
Oct 31^st

My d^st 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 Times¹ - 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 D^r 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 L^y Elis^{th 5} - I saw M^r Feilding ⁶ - after I had y^e 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 G^t 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 f^m home - I hope we shall have some Games at Chess - perhaps you will soon beat me - Tho' I have been often successful Lately - Mons^r 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 y^e D^ss 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 sh^d be particulerly [sic] correct - & when they are so I think they are happier than any Body! I suppose you have look'd at y^e comet often⁸

- the novelty of it in the Heavens appears a G^t Wonder - & it has at times Appear'd beautiful - I sometimes of a Night - Contemplate the Stars f^m my North Room - & Some times read ab^t them - of course - when we recollect M^r Bourblanc's observation on y^e poor Ladies on Simple Chess - so can not I wonder - I am often bewilder'd - in this more Sublime Study - Being now in y^e unfortunate State of wishing for (or rather Claiming) 2 more Points to y^e 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 y^e Same Time I am told North is above me - South under my feet? - You see here my d^r H. what a woman's Stargazing comes to: However I would have 2 names ready if you w^d procure for me y^e 2 additions I wish for -

I am my d^r Henry y^r aff^te
Henri^a Finch

Miss F's Room North looking to Pall Mall S^t J S^t&c ⁹
[illustration] Blue Room Back Room
L^d G F's 2 Rooms
Looking South to y^e G^t Court S^t 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 Esq^r
The Rev^d D^r Butler's
Harrow-on-the Hill
Middlesex

[postmark verso:]
S^t James's
October 31^st
1811