Durnford Street
Stonehouse
Plymouth
Sunday Decr 31st 1854
My dear Henry
I have been laid up for several days with a very bad cold – something of Influenza – & could not see Mr Boger when he called yesterday – But I wrote down yr question, & he wrote in answer: “My belief is that another Action could be brought against another defendant – for an alledged <sic> infringement – precisely under similar circumstances – But I always mistrust my knowledge of Action (which is out of my line of business) & I will enquire of someone better informed than myself.”
Later in the day he wrote: “I have ascertained, from a very competent person, that my impression respecting the means of trying a second time the question of infringement of the Patent, is quite right.” –
Shall you try it again? We have all had these violent colds – but Milord <1> keeps tolerably well – From his window just now he saw the magnificent St Jean d’Acre <2> steam down the Harbour towds the Sound – She will I hope take out some more contributions from us. Tell Amandier <3> I want to hear from her. Give her my best wishes pour la nouvelle Année <4> & many more – & tell her I have got an Agenda for her, wh I will send as soon as she likes – Give Constance & your chicks <5> my best love & goodwishes too; & the same to you –
Ever dear Henry
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
Notes:
1. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
2. See Doc. No: 07099.
3. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal ].
4. For the New Year.
5. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife and Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter, Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter, Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter and Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.