21. Chesham Place
Sunday May 13. 1866
My dear Uncle Henry
Mamma desires me to thank you very much for the letter she found here on our arrival. – We are both so sorry to hear of your having such a bad cough, – but I trust that it is now better. – Mamma would have written herself but she is in bed with a bad cold, which she unfortunately caught in crossing the Channel Thursday: we had a rough passage & she got very wet with the spray. She is taking extra care of herself, as she is very anxious to be well for Carry Edgcumbe’s wedding on Thursday. – We only stayed two days in Paris as we were in a hurry to get home. – but we had a drive with the Dss of Vallombrosa in the Bois de Boulogne which I had never seen before, & with which I was delighted. – We also dined with some friends, M. & Mme de Jaucourt & Mrs & Mrs Hartman (N. B. the ladies are sisters.) M. Persigny came in, in the evening, – very full of politics; – he was pacific in his language, but said Their talked nonsence & based all his finest arguments upon false premises. – Is not the Emperor a regular Mephistopheles? – There is an East wind, & London looks cold & miserable. – Mamma sends her best love. – With mine to all at home. –
Ever yr affecte
Ernestine Edgcumbe