Nice
Sunday April 27th 1834
My dear Henry
I have sent you a number of roots at different times which I hope you have received safe – As they went by different opportunities, I only sent a few at a time – Captn Tower <1> took two packets, Henry Montague one, & divers others I forget who – They are Anemones, Narcissus, Tulips, white Narcissus, Jonquils & Tuberoses – Besides these, I sent about a week ago, three flourishing young Olive-trees, about two or three years old – I ought to have given you notice immediately, as they went by Mrs Duckworth’s servant, who was to travel day & night, & I am afraid they may arrive before this letter, so that you will not know what the parcel contains, & be obliged to open it, thereby causing perhaps a fatal delay – If not, however, the moment you receive a long packet done up in canvas, send it off to Laycock Abbey & put it under Mamma’s <2> especial protection to have them planted in pots. To reward you for your trouble, one of them shall be for you, if they do not die, poor things! after their long journey northwards. They were about a foot & ½ longer, originally, but we curtailed them for the greater convenience of travelling.
We had an event yesterday, by the arrival in the bay of H. M. S. Favourite, commanded by Captn Mundy, <3> a cousin of Constance’s, <4> I believe – It was a melancholy business for him, poor man, as he came to fetch away another Mr Mundy, a cousin of his, who had been staying here, & who died of consumption the very day before – It was a most beautiful day, & the vessel stood off & on within a mile of the shore, & exactly opposite the window, during the whole day – Ld V. <5> went on board – in the evening she sailed for Malta – It gave me a sensation to see the English flag again – we have also had one of the Yachts here, the Iris, belonging to a Mr Greig, I think. –
The wild flowers at present in blow, are the Tassel Hyacinth, Gladiolus, yellow Jessamine, Cistus Albidus & a yellow thorny papilionaceus [sic] plant – the hawthorns have been in blow this fortnight, as well as the oaks covered with lovely green leaves – the elms in the Corso are nearly out – In the gardens we have Neapoli violets still, a few summer roses, Roses de Meaux, magnificent Carnations, (but they have gone on all the winter,) & lilacs this fortnight – The sea is blue & lovely & the country getting delightful for travelling – We shall set out in about a fortnight, but if by chance you should answer this immediately, you may still direct here – if we are gone, they will know where to forward our letters – Plus tard <6> 2 or 3 days afterwards you may direct to Marseilles & afterwards Grenoble. –
Addio fratello carissimo, <7> love to Constance –
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
Angleterre
W Henry Fox Talbot Esqr M.P.
31 Sackville Street
London
Notes:
1. See Doc. No: 02769.
2. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
3. George Rodney Mundy (1805–1884), Admiral of the Fleet, 1877; was Commander of HMS Favourite in the Mediterranean from 1833 to 1837.
4. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
5. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
6. Later.
7. Goodbye dearest brother.
8. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
9. Thomas Stilwell.