Margam Taibach<1>
Octr 26th 1866
My dear Henry
I was so very busy at Cotehele, <2> that I did not answer Your last letter – but I think Ernestine’s to Rosamond<3> would have answered your questions & unless indeed she was gone before it arrived.
We left home on Monday last, in the afternoon. – drove to Saltash, & took the train to Exeter, where we arrived at ½ p. ten & slept. The next day we arrived here at ½ p. 3. – The father & mother of the Bridegroom were here,<4> Mr & Lady Ch. Fletcher (as Sister of Ld Wemyss) <5> & his younger brother Frank, married to a daughter of Lady Emily Pusey; <6> & cousins, Bridesmaid, Miss Campbell, &c &c.
The Wedding took place yesterday, in the Church near the ruins, & went off very well; but Edward Nicholl <7> will tell you all about it. The seven other Bridesmaids were Emily & Olive, Ernestine Evelyn Pennefather, <8> Miss Fletcher, Eleanor Lewellyn <9> & Miss Basset, a friend. They were in white tarlatane with red ribbons; & they looked very pretty, walking down the garden altogether. Poor Kit <10> was dreadfully low during the 2 previous days – & Excessively nervous during the ceremony – but kept up nevertheless – the Sister & Theodore <11> also seemed to feel the parting excessively – & Jane <12> was anxious we shd stay on a few days, to Enliven them. She did not appear at the wedding but came the day before, to take leave of the Bride.
The Lewellyns came & Isabella & Ch. Traherne. <13> In the evg there was a tenant’s dance in the Orangerie, wh we all attended for a certain time – after which it was kept up till 4 o’clock.
I believe we go on Monday or Tuesday to Merthyr Mawr <14> – I wish you would have proposed yourself there or here – it wd have been very nice. I am sure they wd be so glad. We are also asked to Pennllegare <15>; but it is difficult to squeeze every thing in. We think of going back on the 12th Monday – or 13th as Charlie & Shooters are due at Cotehele on 17th & on the 21st we adjourn to Mt E. <16> Can you contrive a visit to either place? London must be dreadfully dull – & I hear you thought of going there?
Cannes is very uncertain for this year – tho’ we shd like it. The Vals <17> will be going very soon. At present they are at the Queen’s Hotel, Hastings, Charlie <18> is at Drumlanrig I believe.
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Margam Park, Glamorgan: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
2. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
3. WHFT'setter not located. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law, and Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.
4. The 25 October 1866 wedding of Bertha Isabella (1841-1911), 2nd dau of CRM Talbot, to John Fletcher (1827-1903), JP.
5. Andrew Fletcher, JP (1796-1879) and his wife, Lady Charlotte Fletcher, née Charteris (d. 1886) - parents of the groom. Her brother, Francis Wemyss-Charteris-Douglas, 7th Earl of Wemyss & March (1795-1883).
6. Capt Francis Charteris Fletcher (1828-1921), married to Lady Clara, née Pusey (d. 1911).
7. Edward Nicholl, son of Jane Harriet Nicholl.
8. Emily Charlotte (1840-1918) and Olivia 'Olive' (1842-1894), the daughters of CRM Talbot (1803–1890) and Evelyn Pennefather (1845–1923).
9. Probably related to Emma Thomasina Llewelyn, née Talbot (1806–1881), photographer; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
10. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
11. Theodore Mansel Talbot (1839–1876), WHFT’s Welsh nephew.
12. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).
13. Probably Isabella Catherine Franklen, née Talbot (1804–1874) and Charlotte Louisa 'Charry' Traherne, née Talbot (1800–1880), WHFT’s cousin.
14. Merthyr Mawr, Glamorgan, on River Ogwr.
15. Misspelling of Penllergaer, Glamorgan, 5 mi E of Loughor: home of the Llewelyn family.
16. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
17. 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).
18. Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.