July 27th 1864
My dear Henry
I found your note here on my arrival yesterday evening – & can only say that there is nothing I should like more than to meet Jane, <1> of all people in the world, at dear Laycock Abbey – but as to hoping for such a pleasure soon, it is quite out of the question, I am sorry to say. In the first place I am here for a fortnight – & I cannot say exactly what I am going to do when that is over. I have various perplexities just now – besides that very serious cause of anxiety, poor Katie’s <2> health. At this moment she is still at Esher, where she went for change of air, as soon as she was able – & Val came to fetch Ernestine yesterday, when I came away. Tomorrow they intend all coming up to London for two nights, & then they take possession of a house they have hired for a time at Tunbridge Wells.
Poor Katie has been very much weakened by her late indisposition – & has in consequence given up all idea of going to Mt E. <3> this year – a sad disappointmt to her & all of us – She dreads the long journey – & everyone seems to think the air of T. Wells more likely to brace her, than that of Mt E. – I think very likely that when I go West, Val <4> will accompany me, to help abt Cotehele, <5> & Ernestine <6> will stay with Katie during his absence; but it is quite impossible for me at present to settle any plans.
I fully intend & hope however to come & see you – but the when, you see, I cannot fix.
Another perplexity is about the house in Charles St – As Mrs Ramsay would not make up her mind about letting it for another year, I have given notice to quit on the 4th of August – but in the meantime her answer may still come – So that I have left all the servants there, with two sets of orders, according to what decision she comes to. This is all very tiresome – as all my goods & chattels have to be divided & packed or not, according to circumstances – & I have got a horse I want to get rid of & can’t sell, & I want to buy another & can’t find one – So you see I am full of uncertainties & troubles.
I had a quick journey yesterday by the 3 o’clock train, & a very pleasant traversée <7> in the Elfin. The “Fairy” was in waiting to take over the Duke of Cambridge <8> on a visit to H.M. <9> greatly to his ennui; <10> for he was engaged all this week to the Duke of Richmond <11> for the Goodwood races; & obliged to pocket his chagrin. Mr Gladstone <12> comes today – & Ld Pam <13> & some other Minister [sic] this week – before the prorogation.
I never saw the foliage in greater beauty than it is here this year – but the grass is entirely burnt up; & Val made the same report of Mount E. where he spent 10 days lately. I don’t know whether I ever told you that poor old Pauley, the gardener at Mount E. died in the Spring – I was very sorry, for he was one of the links of my former old happiness at Mt Edgcumbe – & the first time I went there after my marriage, he was one of the boat’s crew that took us over in the 6 oar’d gig to Barn Pool. How beautiful it all was, I remember, in the month of June!
The new gardener, who has been promoted from the Kitchen garden to be chief over all, is a capital good one, & they say the flowers are much more beautiful & brilliant about the house than they were. However the dry season has no doubt helped – Please thank Amandier <14> for her letter. It was a great pleasure of to see her & Rosamond <15> so comfortably. I long to see you all again at the dear old Abbey –
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).
2. Lady Katherine Elizabeth Edgcumbe, née Hamilton (1840–1874), wife of William Henry Edgcumbe.
3. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
4. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
5. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
6. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.
7. Crossing.
8. George William Frederick Charles, 2nd Duke of Cambridge (1819–1904).
9. Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom (1837–1901), Empress of India (1876–1901).
10. Annoyance.
11. Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond (1818–1903).
12. William Ewart Gladstone (1809–1898), statesman and author. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time this letter was written.
13. Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784–1865), statesman. He was Prime Minister at the time this letter was written.
14. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
15. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.