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Document number: 3604
Date: Fri 10 Jul 1874
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: EDGCUMBE Caroline Augusta, née Feilding
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Last updated: 2nd May 2012

Mount Edgcumbe <1>
Devonport.
Friday 10th July 1874

My dear Henry

I heard today from Lucy Nicholl, <2> of the unexpected death of poor Isabella Franklin <3>.

She was in her garden on Wednesday (week) quite well – but was seized early on Thursday morning with a violent inflammation of the throat – from which she suffered terribly for 3 days – & on Sunday she died. Her two remaining Aunts, Lucy says, will feel the loss of a second sister in one year, very much. – But to her Daughter Annie it will be a most sad one. I do not think you can have seen much of Isabella for a long time, I had never see her since the time she was engaged to be married – when Mary Talbot <4> brought Mr Franklin to Lacock Abbey, except just a glimpse at Merthyr Mawr <5> several years ago.

Lucy writes from Ashleigh near Teignmouth – where she is staying with Ilted <6> & his wife – They have eight children – all flourishing – & I imagine, no money. Lucy & her Sisters have bought a house in Gloster Place, Portman Square, & mean to settle there at the end of September.

You can’t think how happy I was at dear old Lacock! Are Rosamond & Amandier <7> gone yet? Pray write & tell me. I had time at Exeter to see Veitch’s <8> garden, the Museum & the Cathedral with it’s [sic] famous Reredos. – the most harmless, inoffensive decoration for a Church that can possibly be seen! At a short distance, you can scarcely distinguish the figures even – they are so small – & lost in that vast space!

Such childishness as the Archdeacon’s is marvellous!

Yr affte br>Caroline


Notes:

1. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.

2. Lucy Mary Nicholl (1824-1876), of Merthyr Mawr.

3. She means Isabella Catherine Franklen, née Talbot (1804–1874).

4. Mary Thereza Talbot (1795–1861), WHFT’s cousin.

5. Merthyr Mawr, Glamorgan, on River Ogwr.

6. Misspelling of Iltyd Thomas Mansel Nicholl (1828–1885).

7. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter, and Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].

8. Probably Robert Veitch, son of James Veitch (1815–1869), nurseryman.

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