Good Friday
April 3rd 1863
My dear Henry
I cannot tell you when anything has given me so much pleasure as the news contained in the letter I received from you yesterday evening. Amandier <1> had already told me of the honour then intended for you – & I waited with impatience to see the account of the proceedings in the “Times” – when, to my infinite disgust, I found your name was not mentioned! I suppose space was very precious, having so many speeches to report – for the part taken by Sir David Brewster & the Dean of Faculty, <2> were not alluded to either –nor even the Blue hood! When I saw nothing about you, in the day’s proceedings, I began to have horrible misgivings that you had declined the honour – which I though it just possible you were capable of doing – but you must forgive me the evil thought. I should not have forgiven you, however, had I been right.
However I am quite delighted, & very much obliged to you for the amusing description you sent me of the day’s proceedings. I should much have liked seeing you in the blue hood – I hope you also attended the solid part of the festivities? – & were not content with empty honours? The public dinner? I am so very glad your daughters <3> & Amandier were able to see the ceremony! I cannot tell you how pleased I am! I honour Sir D. Brewster & the other Savans for their judgement & discrimination in selecting you as a collegue [sic] to Ld Palmerston, <4> no less than for the energy & skill they must have employed in making you accept. Fortunately it is well over & cannot be undone – & I daresay after all, you did not mind much putting on a blue hood! It was quite right of the Dean of Faculty to talk about the Cuneiform characters, as well as about Photography.
I am sorry to say nothing has been heard of Ernestine’s <5> watch & lockets. I never knew you had met with a similar misfortune.
I go out of Waiting on Easter Tuesday – & suppose I shall go to Schill’s Hotel, 1 Albemarle St <6> till I have my house – on the 10th – I imagine the Vals <7> are coming from Mt E. <8> in the course of that same week, & will bring Ernestine with them. I had a long talk with the Qn <9> two days ago – & she shewed me the Prince’s <10> rooms – the bed where he died – & everything left exactly as it was – with charming fresh flowers perfuming the atmosphere. Princess Alice <11> is still quite well – tho’ Sir C. Locock <12> & others are all ready in the Castle. She drives the Queen out every morning in a little open carriage, 4 in hand – Four of those wee ponies given by the King of Sardinia <13> – the dearest little things! They trot away like little mice. Poor Angioj <14> used to say: “I cavalli Sardi sono come gl’ uomini. Son piccoli – ma son fieri, e cattivi”! <15> however those look as good as possible. I have not seen Prince Alfred <16> yet – But they say he looks well – but requires great care. My love to all, & thanks to Amandier for her letter. I hope Constance <17> is less rheumatic?
Ever dear Henry
Yr affte sister
Caroline
Please thank Amandier for her letter.Notes:
1. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
2. Sir David Brewster (1781–1868), Scottish scientist & journalist and James Muirhead (1831–1889), Professor of Civil Law at the University of Edinburgh. His speech presenting Talbot for the honorary degree and outlining his contributions to knowledge was reported in the Edinburgh Evening Courant, 2 April 1863, p. 5.
3. 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.
4. Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784–1865), statesman.
5. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (16 Aug 1843-1925), WHFT's niece.
6. Louis Schill, private hotelier and eau de cologne importer. [Listed as being at 4 Albermarle Street in the 1856 London Post Office Directory].
7. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’; and his 1st wife, Lady Katherine Elizabeth, née Hamilton (1840-1874).
8. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
9. Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom (1837–1901), Empress of India (1876–1901).
10. Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1819–1861), consort to Queen Victoria.
11. Alice Maud Mary (1843–1878), Princess of Great Britain and Ireland, duchess of Saxony, Grand Duchess of Hesse-Darmstadt; 3rd son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
12. Sir Charles Locock (1799–1875), F.R.S., obstetric physician; 1st Physician-Accoucher to Queen Victoria, 1840. Created baronet, 1857.
13. Victor Emmanuel II (1820–1878), King of Sardinia and 1st King of Italy.
14. See Doc. No: 01116.
15. “The Sardinian horses are like the men. They are small – but they are proud and wicked”!
16. Alfred Ernest Albert (1844–1900), Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha; 2nd son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
17. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.