TALBOT566

Harrow ¹
April 27. 1812.

My dear Mamma,

This place begins to enliven itself at last, the hedges look greenish, and I find some flowers here. viz – daisies, giltcups, primroses, sweetscented blue and white violets, and to my great joy, blue bells, and common Arum; I have not seen blue bells in blow, that I remember, since I left Penrice ² – April 20^th 1807: which must have been too soon in the year for them. The Arums are not as yet at all disposed to blow; I forgot to mention that the fields are enamelled with cowslips – You told me that my cousins were to leave Penrice tomorrow – Could not they have staid to celebrate the first of May? As I do not know where to direct to you, I shall wait till I receive some letter from you to tell me – It is a very dirty wet day, and the Sun is not visible. I think it is but fair our correspondence should be equal, for though it gives me pleasure to write a letter, it gives me much more to receive one. I like the Shell very much – last night I had the pleasure of beating my formidable opponent at chess. M^r E. Perceval, ³ in only ¾ of an hour!

April 28.

Today I have written to George Smith ⁴ again, and I have received a letter from him, there are 19 now at Rottingdean ⁵ – W. Lock is there still. – Last night I again beat my opponent twice in an hour and threequarters – But to make up for the pleasure of telling you this, I am almost confident of losing about a dozen times –

April 30

Contrary to my expectations, I won three games out of five last night: I have bought a sixpenny blank book in which I write chemistry out of different books I borrow here – D^r Butler ⁶ sometimes gives lectures after 8 oclock prayers; at present they are about matter – I wish I had a letter –

May the 1^st

Last night I won 3 Games out of 4; I improve vastly by a little practice, you see – I am afraid this letter will never go for want of knowing where to direct to; I suppose you are going by easy journeys to Malvern, ⁷ and that you have no time to write as yet. Today there has been a row or quarrel between a Harrow boy and a countryman, which soon brought the whole school against the unfortunate man, and 3 of the masters also, who are always obliged to side with the boys –

May 3^rd

I have received y^r letter today – I have seen plenty of Arums growing hereabouts, without being at all inclined to blow as yet. I correspond with George Smith and learn all particulars concerning Rottingdean – I know not when the holiday of Badajoz takes place, but I am afraid never – Jane ⁸ has not answered my letter; you must send me her direction that I may write to her again –

Send me a description of the plants that grow near Malvern – Last night I won 3 games out of 5 –

Y^r Aff^te son
W. H. F. Talbot

Lady E. Feilding
Malvern
Worcester