TALBOT576

Harrow ¹
Sept. 12. 1812. –

My dear Mamma,

The number of boys is decreased from 196 to 192 but I daresay there will be 200 in a week or two – I have got a method of keeping account of what I spend, so that as yet, there has not been a mistake of a halfpenny – What sort of a place is Sprotborough? I am about the 68^th boy at Harrow – My trial for the fifth form is not yet set – Mr Phipps’s name is now Lord Normanby ² – We have a new boy called Sir James Ramsay, ³ our only baronet – today is a whole holiday, on account of some victory, I believe. Do you intend to write the rest of my verses in the book while I am at school? – Smiths Botany ⁴ interests me very much – I believe there will be no cricket this school time –

Y^r Aff^te Son
WHFTalbot.

Turn Over

A riddle of mine

1
I’m a round circle, and a circling round,
When urged I quickly run along The ground,
Yet if not urged I lazily lie still
Nor can you ever make me run up hill,
I’ve said enough to find me if you will -

Anagram of mine
A Chin 2
A Glee 3
Words 4
Cheap 5
Lemon 6
Pear 7
Green Ash 8
Dear Pol came 9

Underneath are the solutions backwards that you need not read them unless you like it –
1. Hoop
2. China
3. Eagle
4. Sword
5. Peach
6. Melon
7. Reap. Pare.
8. Shagreen
9. Cameleopard.

I have just cast up my accounts, the year being completed, when they stand thus –

Received in the year.	Spent in the year.
30. 10. 6	24. 9. 6

I had not time to call on the Crosbies or M^rs Feilding, ⁵ while I was in town –

Today as I was walking with two of M^r Percevals sons, I met Lord Northwick, ⁶ who knowing them very well, and me a little, took us into the his garden and feasted us on cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums, green gages, and figs – Perhaps you will think I shall be ill, but I only eat [sic] a peach, a green gage, and half a fig –

Today I called on M^rs Edwards but she was not at home.

Sept 13. 1812 –

M^r Conyngham ⁷ preached us a very good Lesson today. I am writing with a crow quill –

Today I saw L^d Northwick, & M^r and M^rs Hamilton walking –

D^r Hooker ⁸ is in want of pupils, I hope you will be able to procure him some – Pray try

Lady Elisabeth Feilding
Sprotborough
Doncaster
Yorkshire