TALBOT567

Harrow ¹
May 7. 1812 –
Thursday

My dear Mamma,

I am pretty successful at chess – Altogether, I & M^r Perceval ² have played 24 Games, of which I have won 12 and he 12 – At present he is slow and sure – This morning being an holiday, I gave a grand breakfast to five of my chief friends – I did not give one all last time – I now come to the interesting part of my letter; you must know, that Lord Brudenell had obtained leave on last Saturday evening, to go home & return on Monday morning; he happened to sprain his hand,³ and as the surgeon did not come to see him, till 2 oclock on Monday afternoon, he did not think it worth while to return to Harrow that evening; & supposing Tuesday to be an holiday, he staid till Wednesday morning, and brought an excuse about his hand, which D^r Butler ⁴ not choosing to receive, set him two eclogues of Virgil (160 Lines) to learn by heart; by return of the chaise he came in, he sent a letter to his father, telling him of his punishment – The same evening the same chaise returned with a letter to D^r Butler, saying that as he did not choose to receive the excuse, Lord Brudenell must leave the School!!! & accordingly in an hour & an half he left Harrow never to return – D^r Butler forgot the character of a gentleman, & could not master his passions, but even insulted him – this example will most likely be soon followed; & there could not be a more deadly blow to D^r Butlers interests – Do not you think Lord Cardigan ⁵ a great deal too hasty? I have lost a friend in L^d Brudenell, & I shall feel it some time – One never knows the value of a thing, till p one possesses it no longer – I have received a letter from Jane ⁶ but I am not sure whether to direct Selkirk Villa Cheltenham would be right

Y^r Aff^te Son
W. HFTalbot ⁷

I think of nothing but the late transaction – Write to me your opinion about it – It was too hasty of L^d Cardigan, for he should have written desiring that his son should be excused, at most. On the other hand Dr Butler seems to have a sort of pleasure in punishing as we have lately had, I am sorry to say, too many examples, or it is a mistaken strictness – However towards me his conduct is always uniformly kind and goodnatured

I shall write again very soon, at present I half think it all a dream, it has happened all so quickly – He returned at 9 A.M. yesterday & left Harrow at ½ past 8 P.M –