Sandyhills
August 10th 1865.
My dear Papa,
We were calling the other day on the minister of this Parish Mr Fraser. He is a great botanist and I think you would have been interested in seeing his garden and he has beautiful as well as curious plants, which is more than one could have expected! He showed us a plant I never saw before, the Platycodon – It is very handsome, and he said it was quite easily raised. he had both white and bright blue specimens raised from seed – and he gave us a white one to take home. I would have sent you a flower of the blue plant but it faded too soon – I don’t know if you have got it at Lacock – if not, it is quite worthy of a place in the greenhouse. He had several very rare English plants found here and in the Highlands, but I really can’t remember their names. Mr Fraser is a particularly pleasant gentlemanly man, & it is curious to find a man with such cultivated tastes in such a secluded place. His wife is very primitive – She had a lunch party the other day, & baked the pies herself – quite in the old fashioned style. We had a pretty excursion yesterday along the rocks to the east of this bay – especially to one they call ‘Lot’s Wife’ – it is very curious & would make a good sketch – but I had not time to attempt one yesterday – If we can we mean to go there again; but our time is fast drawing to a close now – as we must be soon going back to Dabton & next Monday will most likely see us off. It is raining this morning, but it looks as if it might soon clear up. We have not had one day during our stay in which we could not get a walk at some moment or other. We had a spendid <sic> bathe yesterday – for the tide was very high & full – and there were waves enough to be pleasant – it is warmer when the water is rather rough. Little Connie quite enjoys going into the sea – she dances & splashes with her feet. Jack does not like it, & we have made no effort to induce him to join, after the first two trials, as the doctor seemed to think he was just as well without it – for this year at least. I fear there is no chance now that any good will come of the poor Atlantic Cable. it is a great pity, when it appeared so likely to succeed at first. I suppose we shall soon be told the reason of the failure –
Will you thank Monie for her last letter? It is some time since I have written to any body now, but bathing just before posttime & other things prevented me – so I waited till today, when the tide being later there is rather more time to come & go on. The Postman will soon be here now, & as I have another letter to write, I must say good bye Love to all – in which the chicks here join – or rather I should say two of them do! They send kisses to Grand Papa, Your affectionate daughter
Tilly