Maison Valin
67 Champs Elysées
Tuesday July 23rd 1850
My dearest Henry
Your letter just received is quite piteous - I am so sorry you take on so when you do not hear from home - but if this reaches you it will set your mind at ease. I must first however tell you, that tho' I did not write to Mont d'Or, I did write to you, as you desired, Post Restante Lyons, on the very same day I received your instructions to that effect; i.e. on the 20th But I fear your anxiety will have hurried you away before my letter could reach you. Charlie <1> arrived here in a flourishing condition last Saturday morning. He left School on the 18th & Mr Williams escorted your Charles <2> the day before, to Birmingham, where Mrs Lowe was to meet him. He says that he was very well, & had lost his deafness, & got on now much better with the other boys. He also says that he is very forward, particularly in Latin; & in the Examination he beat two Boys & equalled a third in a higher Class. Since that I have heard from Amandier <3> - who announced Charles's arrival at Keswick <4> - She says " il reporte á merveille <5>", is improved in manners - & was very happy to see his Mamma & Sisters <6> again. Horatia is at Bowood, <7> while Mr G. <8> is at Iford. Val <9> I heard from today, from Llanberis - He is enchanted with the scenery, Bangor, Carnarvon [sic], the Menai Straits &c, & was going yesterday or today to join Uncle Harry <10> at Greenock, whither he had sent the Petrel. Now I have told you all the family news. Quant á nous[?], we are numb in the same state - poor Ernest <11> off & on ill & well - but very poorly the last 3 days - this Paris heat seems to disagree with him, more than that of Albano He cannot move the right arm in the least, from the acute rheumatism he has been suffering from in the shoulder, just as he thought he was getting better. The baths are left off - & he now hopes to get back to England in a week - Pray come & look for us however. I dare say you will find us -
Yr affte
Caroline
Notes:
1. Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838-1915), JP, WHFT's nephew.
2. Charles Henry Talbot (1842-1916), antiquary & WHFT's only son.
3. Amélina Petit De Billier, 'Mamie', 'Amandier' (1798-1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
4. Keswick, Cumberland.
5. She probably means that he is in excellent health?
6. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811-1880), WHFT's wife; Ela Theresa Talbot (25 Apr 1835 - 25 Apr 1893), WHFT's 1st daughter; Rosamond Constance Talbot (16 Mar 1837 - 7 May 1906), 'Rose'; 'Monie'; artist & WHFT's 2nd daughter; died & buried at San Remo, Italy, with a memorial at Lacock; Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, née Talbot (25 Feb 1839-1927), 'Tilly', WHFT's 3rd daughter; m. John Henry Gilchrist-Clark 16 Jun 1859.
7. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810-1851), WHFT's half-sister. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
8. Capt Thomas Gaisford (1816-1898), JP, who had married WHFT's other half-sister, Horatia.
9. William Henry Edgcumbe, 'Val', 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832-1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT's nephew 'Bimbo'.
10. Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787-1858).
11. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797-1861), WHFT's brother-in-law.