TALBOT615

Harrow ¹
Sept. 29^th 1814.

My dear Mamma,

I know the Tyger Lily ², it is very beautiful. It is neither a Lily nor an Iris, but distinct from both. Harrow agrees with me very well, & I frequently eat meat for supper, when I am inclined: not else. I drink nothing [bu]t ³ water, for the beer is very bad. - I have [no]t enquired whether any better is to be had in the place; but it is extremely inconvenient to have supper from the shops. - We are now locked into the house at six; & I never am really hungry for supper till ten, & then sometimes I get some bread & meat from the cook, at least I used to do so last winter. - Two years ago, I used to have a mutton chop every day, with E. Perceval, ⁴ at 4' o'clock - But since he has gone, I have not found any of my friends who will do so. I do not like to have one by myself all forlorn. I believe indeed that I do not want any more sustenance than I actually eat, for instance I fully purpose today, to celebrate S^t Michaels day by devouring half a goose. Christopher ⁵ is very well, & very well reconciled to Harrow. He is placed N^o 200 in the School (which now consists of 246) in the Second remove of the fourth form, where I was placed on July 13^th 1811. - As to our adventures in the coach, I must reserve them till we meet, for I have described them so fully to Aunt Mary, ⁶ that I really cannot describe them again. While I was in Sackville S^{t 7} I saw M^rs Feilding, Miss Feilding & M^r Hicks. ⁸ I am afraid that I have omitted telling you several things I intended, because I forget whether I have told you them before, or not. I hope you observed the connexion between the names Circoa & Enchanter's Nightshade ⁹- I beg you will not be concerned about my eating, for I assure you my Harrow appetite is increasing fast. Our verses are excused for the capture of Washington. ¹⁰ Do you think these excasions [sic] tend to make us loyal, or ministerial? -

Your Aff^te Son
W. H. F. Talbot.

Lady Elisabeth Feilding
Sir J. Copley's ¹¹
Sprotborough
Doncaster
Yorkshire