11 Randolph Crescent
April 27th
My dear Papa,
Your letter reached me duly on Monday morning, and I am ashamed to see that today Wednesday, I have not yet answered it – I am sorry that the cold weather has so much spoiled the beauty of the garden, but the things must have been too forward, and of course liable to be cut up – you do not mention whether the fruit trees have suffered which we are rather anxious to know, and Tally never thought of asking Wilkins when he was at home – There is a bush in the garden here (apparently a kind of gooseberry) new in bud, but the flowers have got red calixes do you know it?
Here we have had a succession of days with cold east wind and today is particularly gloomy – Tally and I are just come in from the picture gallery which I am sorry you did not visit whilst in Edinburgh as it will close in a few days – and Noel Paton’s pictures I think would have interested you so his details are so exceedingly minute and beautifully done, particularly one subject, in which Ivy, moss, geranium robertianum and even Penguicula are unmistakable – but the general effect of his productions are mostly unpleasing and more curious than pretty.
I have been reading some of Ellis’s Madagascar – by his description of Mauritius it must be quite a paradise for a botanist, and he appears to have been a great collector – he found Stephanotis growing wild – together with Hoyas - Passion flowers &c – and one orchis introduced by him from the wilds of Madagascar produced the flowers which formed the bridal bouquet of the Princess Royal – an honour which he could hardly have anticipated! –
Charles seemed to have enjoyed touring with his friend and was lucky in having tolerable weather just then and I am sure we congratulate ourselves every day on not having to move just now, for had we been at Greta Bank, we could not have done any thing in the way of expeditions or picnics for the present at least –
Good bye dear Papa,
I hope it will not be very long before you come back to us – Today again the news is warlike and I suppose in a few days we shall know for certain what is to be. I suppose you heard that Uncle Mundy is going to stand again for the County having been so much solicited that he could not refuse.
Good bye, Yr affecte Ela