Cotehele House <1>
Calstock
Tavistock
Feby 2nd 1869
My dear Henry
I have been intending every day to answer your letter – but have had so much to do, which I dare say you can hardly imagine, that I have not had a moment yet to put my good intentions in execution.
That was a mistake in the Times <2> about Sir James Fergusson’s <3> arrival at Sydney. It must, I suppose have meant only his family – as I know his children were sent straight out to Australia – but why they went to Sydney instead of Adelaide, I do not know. I believe the middle of Feby was the time they expected to arrive at their destination. I have had altogether 4 letters from Charlie <4> – on board “Ceylon” – nearing Alexandria, Suez, on board “Golconda” nearing Aden, & Bombay – all very interesting. The last dated 31st Decr –
I enclose a copy I have made of the Suez letter, wh I think will interest you – Please return it when done with. We continue to get good accounts from Katie; <5> it had become rather cold at Cannes. Here we found a few wild primroses in blow on the 31st Jany – The weather is wonderfully mild – but such rains! A cottage down by the river had 2ft of water in the night, under the poor people’s beds – & the boat, in a dry boathouse, was afloat, from the same cause – At Cawsand, <6> great damage has been done by the sea washing away windows out of picturesque old houses &c
I wish you describe [sic] what Lucalia gratissima & Candollia [sic] tetranda & Eriostemon are like.
Goodbye – in haste –
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
2. The Times (London).
3. Sir James Fergusson, Governor of Adelaide from 1868 to 1873. [See Doc. No: 09443].
4. Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.
5. Lady Katherine Elizabeth Edgcumbe, née Hamilton (1840–1874), wife of William Henry Edgcumbe.
6. Near Mt Edgcumbe.