Speddoch Thursday
July 5th 1860
My dear Papa,
This is really a very hot day, at last, and I am wondering whether it is the same at Paris, and whether you are being burnt up by the sun. I suppose you are there still, as Mama wrote me word that you intended to remain about ten days, and that Uncle William and Lady Ilchester were to join you before you went on to the Pyrenees. Are you going straight there when they come? and to what particular spot? You must really tell me something about where your head quarters are to be, or else when I write, I shall be reduced to putting Poste restante, Pyrenees, on the envelope, and I am afraid that will hardly do. What a beautiful day this is for the contemplate journey from Lacock to Cumberland – that is to say, if they really do start – for, from my last letter, I should not be surprised to hear that it had been put off for a day or two – I suppose you heard how Mama went down to Margate last Saturday to see Aunt Marion, whom she heard was very unwell – I am afraid she felt quite anxious about her, but I hope found her better than she expected; and at any rate she would feel more at ease and fa happier after the visit – I had a letter from Rosamond, written on Sunday, and telling me all this, but I have not heard again, nor what the result of the visit was – Mama intended to return home again on Monday evening – Charles still complains of feeling weak and unwell but seems happy at Mirehouse, where I believe they are doing everything to make him comfortable, and I hope the good air and rest will quite set him right again – I dare say he is feeling the effects of summer weather, after all the cold we have had, and that this contributes to make him languid. How fortunate you were in seeing so much of the Volunteers without taking any measures to do so! It must have been a very interesting scene, and one calculated to raise the Military ardour of those who might be getting tired of playing at Soldiers. Here the drills go on as usual but our company are not yet allowed to shoot, I believe – they are not to be trusted yet, but they are very impatient to begin, and are waiting at present till some inspector comes down to give them permission – They all go to drill in Uniform now, and I believe look well as a body – The Uniform is indeed much more becoming than I expected.
The garden is at last recovering its looks, and the poor flowers which have struggled so long against unseasonable cold winds, and looked quite burnt up in consequence, are now going to make a show. We have a beautiful large blue or lilac climatis against the house with seven big flowers like passion flowers open at once – a very creditable performance for a plant which was only put there late in April – All the domestic animals are prosperous, except the young turkeys of which we have lost nine out of twenty-seven; but if the survivors chose to live and prosper, we shall even now think ourselves fortunate – it is the rain and damp weather that kills them. I have just received a letter from Ela, from which I am glad to see that Mama made out her journey satisfactorily and returned on Monday evening, but as Ela was writing to you at the same time, she will have told you all particulars, & that they still hoped to start today – So good bye dear Papa write to me soon, please, and tell me where you are going to Johnnie begs that I will not forget messages from him –
I remain yr affecte daughter
Matilda