TALBOT621

Harrow ¹

Oct. 26. 1814.

My dear Mamma,

Christopher ² says that he has had the Scarlet fever. Your letter, though only half a sheet, cost 7^d which is very dear for 10 miles. It only cost a shilling from the North. – I have done 80 lines of my declamation, which is nearly all I intend to do – I wish you would collect my prizebooks together, that when I come & see you, I may take them back with me, to adorn my bookcase. There are seven – viz. Horace. Pindar. Æschylus – Sophocles – Cicero de Officiis – Conciones Latinæ – ³ & another, I forget what. – I have also another here: – Tibullus – ⁴ a very nice book … Kit drinks tea in my study, morning & evening – a privilege, which few fourth form boys have, at least comfortably. He goes on very well in learning. His tutor is an odious man, with a horrid name. He is so tiresome: – he never does anything like any other tutor. We are filling D^r B.’s ⁵ Greenhouse with plants, which otherwise would be entirely empty & watching with great interest, the opening of our buds, & the germination of our seeds. The greenhouse is a miserable one, without any flue; & therefore only useful in keeping off the wind & rain. The wet weather has set in for good: & I expect no more Sun till May. – I have found out, that I am very ignorant of history, & so have begun to read Goldsmiths Greece. ⁶ – As a monitor, I have access to the School library; which consists of two rooms, each about twice as big as my study. – the books in them are parting presents of Harrow boys, & some of them are very nice ones: – classics, & English poets. –

I remain

Y^r Aff^te Son

W. H. F. Talbot. –

Lady Elisabeth Feilding
31 Sackville S^t
London