[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 55 
Malahide, and to preserve their memory. His brother William had 
visited him in 1810. His sister Margaret’s son, Julius Airey, had after- 
wards been invited to reside with the Colonel. A residence of a year 
or more had satisfied young Airey, just verging on manhood, with the 
home life of Port Talbot. His experiences were anything but pleas- 
ing. The youth found no suitable companions among the neighbouring 
settlers. The life was intolerably dreary. Its monotony was varied 
only by the uncle’s eccentricities of habit and temper. For a year or 
more the nephew endured it. Then he returned to England, cheer- 
fully, no doubt, relinquishing his hope of inheritance of the vast estate. 
Richard Airey, his brother, was Secretary to Lord Aylmer during the 
latter’s Governor-Generalship. He had visited Colonel Talbot while 
holding this position. Afterwards, during the rebellion, as Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel of the 34th Regiment, he had been quartered at St. 
Thomas, only thirteen miles distant. Some years later, being then 
Military Secretary at the Horse Guards, he removed from England with 
his family, and came to Port Talbot to reside. Talbot denied that he 
held out inducements to him to come to Canada, but maintained he had 
reluctantly assented to Colonel Airey’s own proposition. At all events, 
when Airey arrived, it was with the understanding, on his part at least, 
that he was to settle at Port Talbot and succeed to the estate. 
The old residence was soon transformed by the new occupant. The 
hours for meals were changed and new ways of living introduced, to 
suit the fashion of the Old World. Disagreements resulted. Talbot . 
built a new house close by, where he might live as he pleased. “ But,” 
as Mr. Edward Ermatinger says, “all would not do,—the old bird 
had been disturbed in his nest, and he could not be reconciled.” He 
determined to spend the rest of his days in England or on the Continent 
and actually resided in England for a year and more.* , 
Before leaving Port Talbot, however, he effected a settlement with 
his nephew, by conveying to him the Port Talbot estate, worth then 
about ten thousand pounds, and including some 1300 acres, as well 
as all his lands in Aldborough? Whilst Talbot was in England, 
Airey returned thither with his family, and resumed his military duties. 
He became Sir Richard Airey, was Quarter-Master-General during the 
Crimean War, some years before his death, and was elevated to the 
House of Lords. 

? See letters of Colonel Talbot and George Macbeth to H. C. R. Becher 
in the Appendix to “The Talbot Régime,” by Judge Ermatinger. 
?The deed is dated 16th March, 1850. It describes Aldborough lands 
containing 27,650 acres, more or less, but includes expressly all other lands 
owned by Talbot in the Township. 
