TALBOT719

Castleford, ¹
September 21^st 1816.

My Dear Mamma,

I went to Pomfret Races each day, & was very much amused. The last day’s sport was particularly good. I intend to go & see the S^t Leger run for at Doncaster the day after tomorrow; – Forty-six horses are entered to run, & it is said that most of them will run – L^d Milton’s ² Maritoines is the favourite – I know a gentleman who has a bet of 100 g^s to Ten, with a certain Black Legs that Maritoines does not win. The other day I saw a foot race round Pomfret race ground between Joseph Beale the Yorkshire hero, & Isaac Brierley the Lancashire favourite, which was won by the Yorkshireman 220 y^ds with great ease. A great many Lancashire men had come from home to witness the trial of swiftness between the two counties, but when they found their champion was defeated, they all deserted him, & left him to beg his way home. The circuit of the course is two miles, this was run by the winner in 10 minutes and 10 seconds – There was an excellent race at Pomfret between L^d Scarborough’s ³ Hurricane and M^r Lambton’s ⁴ Silences. Hurricane won by only half a head. Yesterday I took a very long ride; I went to Leeds, thence to Wakefield, & so home. I went partly up Wakefield Church; – It has a handsome Spire, 234 feet high. I went up 120 f^t. by 160 steps. The weather is very changeable, we never have two days the least alike. I am very well – As for Nuttall, he says he is going away, because Baring teases him. Gordon is soon going back to Cambridge: the vacation being nearly expired. I don’t like Baring particularly. He is so very idle: Is not Bruton ⁵ the post Town to Redlynch? ⁶ Is Miss Elborough ⁷ with my sisters now? I think you must find it very dull at Redlynch –

I remain, Y^r Aff^te Son
W. H. F. Talbot

Lady Elisabeth Feilding
Redlynch
Wincaunton
Somerset