102 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
parts of his body, and expired instantly. It has always appeared to | 
me the highest absurdity to attempt to charge Infantry in close order 
with Cavalry. I conclude it was the work of that coxcomb (Cotton) 
who at present commands the cavalry in Portugal. They might, one 
would have thought, have taken a lesson from what happened to the 
23d at Talavera, when they were not able to touch a hair of a French- 
man’s head. 
Brand says Ld. Wellington has written in the handsomest manner 
on the subject to some part of the Family—probably my mother or 
Richard. I tremble to think of the effect this intelligence may have 
on my poor mother, coming so recently as it does too after the death 
of poor Margaret. It is my intention to set out for Ireland by to- 
morrow night’s mail, as she is at present almost left alone. 
I hope your concerns are going on prosperously, and that William 
has a chance of doing something for himself in your country. I heard 
an account of your manner of living some time ago from Whitehead 
who had it [from] somebody who had seen you [and it] amused me 
not a little. 
[God bless] you, my dear Thos. 
every very sincerely yours 
(sgd) Rosr. TALBOT. 
Love to William if he should be still with you. N 
(The letter is addressed :) 
Thos. Talbot Esqr. 
Port Talbot 
Niagara 
New York State 
N. America. 
(There is a memo. in Colonel Talbot’s writing on the back:) 
Bond in favour of Mr. Selby, payable 18th Feb’y 1812. 

The following is from a brother of Colonel Talbot, either Sir John 
Talbot, afterward Admiral, &e., &c., or James, who afterwards 
succeeded Richard in the title Baron Talbot of Malahide, to 
William Talbot. 
My Dear William, Near Hatfield, Herts, 2d. Octr. 181u. 
By your letter of the 20th July you seem not to have received my 
letter wherein I announced to you that I had settled the demand of . 
Lawson’s Executors amounting to £70. and that I had a balance of 

