15 November
My Dear Henry
I want to know what answer Mr King <1> has sent you, he is at Brighton. I see you are for it next year, tho’ you escape being High Sheriff this. Mr Leighton <2> has just left your Infusoria here, I have not seen it yet being waiting for Caroline <3> to come down stairs to assist at the opening. She is anxious you should be at the Christening, <4> but Lord V. <5> is so unwell that he will not hear of fixing any time, tho’ I who am God Mother have declared I cannot stay on here for ever.
Lord V. is not half so well as when he <came?> <6> from Buxton. To day it is a dense yellow fog – There is no weather in the Country however bad that can compare with it in dismalness. I really think I must find some better climate to pass the depth of winter in, next year. For rhumatic <sic> constitutions the Trial is too great.
aff yrs
E F
Henry
Notes:
1. Of William Read King & Son, solicitors, London.
2. See Doc. No: 03703.
3. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
4. Of Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.
5. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
6. Text obscured by seal.