TALBOT674

Castleford ¹
Nov^r 22^d 1815.

My Dear M^r Feilding,

I am very much obliged to you for the books which I received yesterday. – You did not include the Greek Testament as you said, but however I believe there are plenty here. – And in the first parcel you left out the Xenophon’s Anabasis, ² which I wanted as a Greek prose writer. – The Prayer Book is almost too well bound to be used every Sunday; – I have not tried the new Flannel Waistcoats yet; – they seem almost too large. – We have heard of a great many Ponies, one of which I tried, but did not like it at all; – so did not buy it. – I shall certainly find one soon that will suit me. – We are pretty regular here, – breakfast at 9, lunch at 1. Dinner at 6. – Tea ½ p. 8. Bed ½ p. 10. – I am at present reading, Horace’s Epistles, Homer’s Odessey, Cicero de Officiis, Sallust, Euclid, Gisborne’s Survey – Tytler’s Elements of History, La Harpe’s Cours de Litterature. & Arithmetic. & Paley’s Moral Philosophy. ³ – not all on the same Day, but certain books on certain Days – I have made no use of my Gun yet, indeed I see so little Game here, that it is of no use. – This is the Total of what I have seen in my walks as yet, 2 pheasants – 2 rabbits, 1 Hare. – We go to Church twice on Sunday, the Sermon is in the Morning, of about 20 minutes duration; which is a very pleasant length: – at Harrow M^r Cunningham Sermon’s were 35 minutes long on the average, & as he gave us one both Morning & Evening, & subdivided them into more Heads than the Lernæan Hydra ⁴ had, we were always very tired of them. – M^r Barnes ⁵ preaches very well, short, clear, & comprehensive. – The Morning Chronicle is highly agreeable to the party here assembled. – I find M^r Barnes understands a little Persian. – Pray inform me about Kit’s ⁶ alarm at Harrow, of which my Aunt Charlotte ⁷ speaks

I remain, Y^rs Aff^tly
WHF. Talbot.

Tell Mamma that I lock up her letters in my writing desk, so she may write to me whatever she likes, secure from the animadversions of servants –

Cap^t Feilding R.N.
Melbury ⁸