4 Athole Crescent
Nov: 19th
My dear Papa,
I must really write you a line today, for fear you should think us still enveloped in a dingy wet fog, whereas these two days, today especially have been beautiful: perfectly calm, and the sun quite warm. Mamie <1> went out this morning for the first time as she has not been well, and enjoyed basking in the sun in the Princes St. Everything here looks just as usual, as natural as if we had quitted it but yesterday, and we are very comfortably settled now, and feel quite at home. The gallery of arts, near the Royal Institution <2> on the Mound, is now quite finished, and they have made a large terrace round it overlooking the gardens, and commanding a beautiful view of Scot’s monument <3> and Calton hill, terminating in a [illegible deletion] splendid flight of steps up to the old town. All that is quite new and a great improvement. Mama <4> has been paying some visits today, and heard that our first acquaintance here, Mr and Mrs Campbell are [illegible deletion] just arrived. Poor Mr C. was very ill last year, but is much better now. Professor and Mrs Forbes <5> called when Mama was out – I d’ont known how they learnt we were here. We have also seen Mrs Cockburn, <6> who talked a great deal about Indian affairs, in which she is more deeply interested than anyone, having, as you know, three sons in the Bengal army. She has had much anxiety about the eldest, who so greatly distinguished himself a few months ago. At the battle of Agra he had a narrow escape of his life, and was severely wounded in the leg by a cannon ball, which killed his horse under him. But by the last accounts he was getting on very favourably, and was able to walk about a little, and he intended to apply for service as soon as ever he was recovered, and was burning to distinguish himself.
I had a letter from Charles <7> today, but he does not say anything particular, except that the holidays begin in about three weeks.
The leaves are all gone here, but really it is not surprising, as I think they always fall faster in a town, and on the 19th of November, one does not generally see many anywhere.
I am writing with a new kind of ink, which is supposed to turn very black in an hour or two, but at present it is so pale as to be almost illegible.
As mama is writing also, I think I have nothing more to say, so goodbye, dear Papa,
your affectionate daughter
Rosamond C. Talbot
Notes:
1. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
2. The National Gallery of Art and the Royal Institution (now the home of the Royal Scottish Academy), Princess Street, Edinburgh. The Gallery was opened to the public in March 1859, but Rosamond must have been admiring it in its near-complete condition, for the Talbot family was resident in Athole Crescent from 1855-1858 .
3. Walter Scott (1771–1832), novelist and historian.
4. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
5. Prof James David Forbes (1809–1868), Scottish scientist, and his wife.
6. Probably related to Emily Cockburn. [See Doc. No: 07974].
7. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.