Cotehele House <1>
Calstock
Tavistock.
Feby – 11th 1874
My dear Henry
I must write you a line to wish you all health & happiness on this your Birthday, which you see I always remember; & also to thank you for your letter of the 5th – I heard not long ago from Theresa Nicholl. <2> She told me they would soon be going to Merthyr Maur, <3> which would be very trying, as Every single thing there would recall her Mother. After that, they thought of settling in London – but nothing was fixed. – I also heard from Harriot Mundy <4> yesterday – She has been very ill – but was all right again apparently. Mr M. was tolerably, [sic] for him – but she lamented for both their sakes, that he would not move to some warmer place.
Did you see Sir Wm Gallwey <5> only got in by one vote? I should think Mr Gladstone <6> must be quite mad at the result of his coup d’état. I hope it may turn out well; for I do think his Governmt has done a great deal of mischief; & I long for a change. It is curious how the Ballot has gone against it’s [sic] contrivers. <7> We have had Mr Carew & Mr Tremayne <8> here, on their electioneering tour. They had a meeting at a small place nr Calstock, so dined & slept here. They are both very pleasant, & Mr T. clever & agreable. His brother, Col Tremayne, <9> is you know, the present possessor of Carclew. <10>
Harriot mentions that it was said that Lady Holland had bequeathed Holland House to Ilchester <11> – & she fancies it is certainly to be his eventually – but Louisa Howard <12> thinks he has bought the reversion – Ly Holland being now poorer, & wanting to get money. We have had a bitterly cold Easterly gale for 2 days – & cannot keep it out of the House. It nips one, & unfits me, at least, for anything. I hope you are all well in spite of it, & Charles <13> better. Which way does he vote?
Our vegetation is backward – only some snowdrops & crocuses – but I have on the table a lovely bouquet of large, out-of-door, pink rhododendrons, from Mt Edgcumbe. <14> I ought not to forget that we have Czar violets in abundance.
My love to all – & Ernestine <15> sends her’s [sic].
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
Notes:
1. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
2. Theresa Nicholl, daughter of Harriet Jane Nicholl.
3. Merthyr Mawr, Glamorgan, on River Ogwr.
4. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.
5. Sir William Payne Gallwey, 2nd Bart (1807-1881), MP.
6. William Ewart Gladstone (1809–1898), statesman and author.
7. Gladstone’s first ministry had ended badly. Parliament was dissolved and the Tories won the election of early February 1874.
8. Probably Robert Shapland Carew (d. 1881), politician, and John Tremayne (1825–1901), politician who sat for Cornwall from 1874 until defeated in 1880.
9. Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Tremayne (1827–1905), politician.
10. Carclew, Cornwall, 3 mi N of Penryn: seat of Sir Charles Lemon.
11. Henry Edward Fox Strangways, 5th Earl of Ilchester (b. 1847).
12. Louisa Howard, née Fitzmaurice (d. 1906), daughter of Lady Louisa Emma Fitzmaurice.
13. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
14. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
15. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.