Torquay
10 Hesketh Terrace Crescent
Novr 10th 1853
My dear Henry
It is such an age since I have heard from any of you, that I do not even know where you are – and shall therefore direct this to Laycock Abbey, in the confidence that it will be forwarded to you.
Milord <1> had at one time great hopes of wintering abroad – but having tried the Yacht, & finding that although he enjoyed it extremely in harbour, & sailing short distances, it would be out of the question venturing upon a long voyage, & that the railroad journey to Teignmouth was quite fatigue enough for him, he determined upon taking a house here for the winter – so here we have been established nearly a month. Ten days ago however I went up to London with Ernestine & Charlie, <2> on dentist business. Val <3> came to see us. He passed successfully a few days before, his Examinn in Classics & Divinity – which according to the new System is half the work for his Degree – but he was in great trepidation before hand – as he found on his return to Oxford that the Examiners had tacked on without notice a 5th Book of Livy to the 4 already ordered to be taken up. This was rather hard – & he had to read hard for three days & nearly three nights besides being very nervous – which fatigued him a good deal – However that is all well over now. – We four enjoyed ourselves during the week in London; we saw a good deal of Jane, <4> who is in B. Square, <5> & went to the Play. I took Ernestine for the 1st time in her life – to Drury lane [sic] to see the Horsemanship & Gymnastics – no acting. She was in a great state of delight, as you may suppose.
Little Horace <6> is in Town, on a visit to Jane – He is such a little dear! – & such a contrast to Annie Porcelli’s little girl, <7> who is here with Ly Brownlow <8> – She is as black as an Arab, & he as white & as soft as Swansdown. We then went to Oxford with Val, & spent his Birthday there – He is actually twentyone! – Chi l’avrebbe creso? <9> Mr Gaisford <10> went with us, & they were all hospitality at the Deanery, where we lodged.
We returned here last Monday. Milord is much the same – occasionally better & in good spirits – & then again very suffering & weak. Sir Charles Lemon <11> called today on his way from Melbury <12> to Carclew. He seems very well. Ly Dunstanville<14> is still in Town, suffering pain from her broken arm –
How are Constance & Amandier & my nieces? <13> Give them my love & Ernestine’s – & let me hear soon from some one –
Yr very affte
Caroline
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot esqre
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Greta Bank
Keswick
Cumberland
Notes:
1. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
2. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece, and Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.
3. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
4. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).
5. Belgrave Square, London. [See Doc. No: 06853].
6. Lt Horace Charles Gaisford (1851–1879), WHFT’s nephew.
7. Flora St. George, née Porcelli. [See Doc. No: 06819, and Doc. No: 09638].
8. See Doc. No: 06819
9. Who would have believed it?
10. Capt Thomas Gaisford (1816–1898), JP, WHFT’s brother-in-law.
11. Sir Charles Lemon (1784–1868), politician & scientist; WHFT’s uncle.
12. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there
13. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife, Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family and Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter, Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter and Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
14. Sir Charles Lemon's sister, Harriet, née Lemon (1777–1864). In 1824, she became the 2nd wife of Francis Basset, 1stBaron de Dunstanville and Basset (1757–1835), MP, FRS, and political writer.