TALBOT666

Penrice: ¹
Sept. 17^th 1815.

My Dear Mamma,

I write to you on the only sheet of letter paper I could procure, which bears "My Dear Miss" on the back of it. - I was very much pleased to receive Caroline's ² letter with the little Geranium in it, which arrived just as I was examining the very pretty Geranium lucidum which I found in the wood, which I think you said you found last year in the North. I think this is the first letter I ever received from Caroline, & it begins in the usual stile [sic], with the affectionate enquiry of "I hope you are well." Christopher ³ returned to Harrow ⁴ last Sunday, & I am not sorry that he returned without me: - Davy ⁵ went with him, & returned yesterday. Admiral Sotheby ⁶ & Cap^t Gasgoigne of the Navy dined here on Friday; - and yesterday M^r de Cardonnel ^<7> & Cap^t Dickens came on a visit; - I don't know how long they will stay. My Uncle William ⁷ has been in this part of the Country lately, without coming to see us here, which everybody thinks shocking of him. -

You say you like my journalizing letters; - I am afraid I have troubled you with very few lately, - Aunt Mary ⁸ tells me that you are very anxious, lest I should kill myself with my gun: but you are mistaken if you suppose me as careless as my Uncle William is, where there is need of care: neither am I so shortsighted as to mistake Jem George for a hare, or partridge. However, I have as yet only been out once, with my Gun; - of which expedition I have written a full account to M^r Feilding, ⁹ & you know I have a great aversion to writing the same story twice; - so I will only say, that I did not get a shot, but had a long sultry walk all over the Country. I shall not go out again "yet awhile" -

I have not studied much Italian lately.

18^th

It rains torrents, so I doubt much whether M^r de Cardonnel will be able to depart today.

I remain,
Y^r Aff^te Son

W. H. F. Talbot.

Lady Elis. Feilding
31 Sackville S^t
London
My dear Miss ¹⁰