TALBOT735

Burley, ¹
Christmas Day, 1816.

My Dear Mamma,

I have burned your note, in order that none of the Servants may read it - I assure you that I have not yet been once too late at either breakfast or dinner, which I hope you will consider as symptoms of incipient reformation -

The party here has been increased by Mr Finch Hatton, & L^y Charlotte Hatton, ² and the Dowager Duchess of Rutland ³ - & M^r Baker, & M^r Raikes, the Commercial Dandy ⁴- L^d & L^y Lonsdale, ⁵ with L^ys Mary & Ann & Major Lowther ⁶ dined here the other day - from Cottesmore -

I believe I shot a Woodcock yesterday in Burley wood, but we could not find it as it fell among the bushes - which was vexatious, inasmuch as I don't know whether I killed anything else in the course of the Day - I missed a squirrel up in a high Tree - Tomorrow we are to shoot in Hambleton wood - You know Hambleton church, you see it from the windows - If my box of books arrives from Castleford during my absence, pray do not open it, but leave it for me to open. Have you had my mosses franked to Mr Hooker? ⁷ and what news of an astronomical note? M^r F. ⁸ called on M^r Bonney ⁹ today, he is to dine here some day soon, & I shall see him then - I have had several very good games of Chess with Miss Finch, ¹⁰ & I think on the whole, with success -

Y^r Aff^te Son
W. H. F. Talbot

The Greek is for you, if you like it -

For Caroline & Horatia ¹¹

<συννεφα> ¹² καλυπτει ¹³ Σεληνην ¹⁴ απ' ¹⁵
Nubes obscurant Lunam ab ¹⁶
The Clouds hide the Moon from

ημετερων ¹⁷ οφθαλμων ¹⁸, αυτικα ¹⁹ ανεμος ²⁰ εγειρεται ²¹
nostris oculis, mox ventus orietur ²²
our eyes, soon the wind will arise

και ²³ απελαυνει. ²⁴ αυτα ²⁵ ο ηλιος ²⁶ αναστησει ²⁷
et dissipabit illas. Sol surget ²⁸
and will disperse them. The Sun will rise

και προβαλει ²⁹ αυγην ³⁰ δια ³¹ πασαν ³²
et emittet radiis per totum ³³
and will dart his rays through the whole

αιθραν ³⁴
æthera. ³⁵-
sky. -

The Lady E. Feilding
Sackville S^t
London
Pray write every day Y^r letters are my whole & sole amusement ³⁶
Send the enclosed note & forward me Miss Priddies[?] answer as soon as you [text missing] ³⁷