TALBOT638

Clifton, ¹
Feb^ry 25th 1813

My dear Henry

I do not think Aunt Susan ² kept the Vinny No. 3, because she heard me say that I thought you must have taken it, I wish you would enquire of my Aunt Lily ³ what she knows about it, I think Vinny’s must have some concealed wings, for the first number went away in a most extraordinary manner M^r Eden sent us another Vinny I wish you could see it, it is worth all the Vinny’s How very much I should like to be possessed of such a fund of Wit – but Wit is very dangerous, still I think a person without it cannot a small portion of it is always very dull I delight in your woods & rocks – I like it better than if it was Sublime – Pray always write to me when you feel yourself in a practical mood, but do not wait for the Muses if you are inclined to write. I read your Laura Matilda when I was at Stinsford, ⁴ & Aunt Susan used to quote “Hail! Immortal [?ment], Queen of Life’s sweet roseate hour” to M^r OBrien ⁵ about six times in an hour – Pray send me some paragraphs for the Vinny which we are writing – In M^r Eden’s ⁶ there was a Paragraph that we never cease laughing at “Last week was overturned in this neighbourhood a Pedlar’s Pack several bad contusions were received by the passengers, two watches had their faces dreadfully smashed & their hands broken, several needles had their eyes knocked out, ^{the legs of} a pair of Compasses had it were dislocated, two phials had their necks broke and a pincushion actually had it [sic] brains knocked out.” I forgot to put at the beginning “Horible [sic] Accident” – at which we are barbaric enough to laugh – M^r Feilding ⁷ was here for a few days he went on Monday last and intended getting to London on Wednesday – Do you think Caroline & Horatia ⁸ have forgotten us? I can hardly pity M^r Coates as he is a great Coxcomb he has been very rich and fancies he is doing the public a great service his acting which he does very badly – as to being laughed at that was the least of his misfortunes however it is good for Trade his having spent 300 pounds for two days nothing I heard you was [sic] to have gone to the see the remains of the Fete at Carlton House which I say is the same thing, but Mama ⁹ says going to the Fair & the Day after the fair are two different things – did you go? –

We set out for Penrice ¹⁰ on Monday – Quelle joie ¹¹ I wish you were to be of the happy party –

Believe me your very affect^te Cousin
Jane Harriet Talbot –

Are you well acquainted yet with L^d Chas. Murray? ¹² – how do you like him?

Kit ¹³ went yesterday

W H F Talbot
Harrow School
Middlesex
Clifton Feb^ry 25^th 1813 ¹⁴