Mount Edgcumbe <1>
Devonport
Septr 9th 1861
My dear Henry
Your dear kind letter soothed me very much.
We left the Yacht on Wednesday evening, & went to the Hotel where your letter found me, till Saturday, when we came down here by the night Express. It was very sad leaving him in the Yacht – & I shall never forget the last look I had of that loved face, <2> so beautifully calm & happy in it’s [sic] expression! But Charlie <3> immediately declared that he would come round with the Yacht to Plymouth himself, & see that every possible care was taken.
He wrote me such a feeling, tender letter, the next morning early, just before starting – & indeed it was a very trying duty for him to undertake. They reached Dover Thursday night & were obliged to stay there all Friday & Saturday from stress of weather – But yesterday morning we heard by telegraph that they had left Dover – & today that they have left Cowes – so they will probably arrive in the middle of the night.
I ought to have let you know before that the funeral is to take place on Wednesday, & Valletort <4> would have written to you himself, only he thought I had done so – But we have not asked anyone – not even Ronald, <5> because he was at such a distance, & could only get a very short leave from his ship, the Hague, at Greenock – & I would not anyhow have asked you – because I know that you cannot bear such sad scenes – Still, as we told Bim, Mr Gaisford, <6> & a few others, that if they liked to come they would be welcome, & some few have expressed a wish to do so of themselves, it is but right that you should have the same half invitation. I do not however expect you in the least – besides there would scarcely be time now for you to get here – Rim <7> is come, & Mr Gaisford will be here tomorrow. –
This place looks so very beautiful today – with a bright sun, & all the garden under my window, full of flowers – the garden he used to be so fond of!
My love to all
Ever yr affte sister
Caroline
Notes:
1. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
2. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
3. Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.
4. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
5. Probably Ronald Macdonald, nephew of William Henry Edcumbe.
6. Capt Thomas Gaisford (1816–1898), JP, WHFT’s brother-in-law.
7. Reginald John Macdonald (d. 1899), nephew of William Henry Edcumbe.
8. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].