Speddoch <1>
August 4th Saturday
My dear Papa
Having heard from Mama <2> yesterday that you meant to stay a week in Paris, and therefore a letter would certainly have time to reach you, I cannot delay expressing on the part of all here, how very much grieved we were to hear of your illness, and how anxious until we learnt that you were fairly returned to civilized ground and on your way home. Mama forwarded to us all the news she received of you as soon as possible, so that we were only one day later in getting it, and it was most fortunate that though nearly all our letters seem to have been lost, every one of yours arrived quite safely. As your last account was so favourable, I hope you will have lost all traces of indisposition by the time you reach England, and at any rate I am sure the air of Oakfield <3> will quite set you up again, it is so dry and healthy. Its influence combined with that of Speddoch have already made quite a different being of me, and one would have supposed that change of air would not have had so much effect as usual in such a queer changeable summer as this. Mamie <4> and I came here on the 17th and are to stay till next thursday the 9th by which time I am sure Mama will be wishing for us home, as I am sure she and Ela <5> must find it too much to have all the care of finding occupation for Charles <6> in his present low state and cheering him up, though they say he is decidedly much improved since we left. From here I have nothing but good accounts to give. Tilly <7> is remarkably well and lively, and is looking more rosy and strong than she had been for a long time. She was particularly glad to have us with her just now, as owing to meetings, drills, a great Highland show at Dumfries this week, and the grand review of volunteers before the Queen <8> at Edinburgh next Wednesday, for which they are studying with great energy, Mr Clark <9>has had to be so much away from home, that Tilly would have been very lonely all by herself. What a different appearance every place has in summer, for till now we had no idea how very pretty all the country around, with its hills and woods, could look under favourable circumstances, for last time you know we saw it accompanied with dreary snow and rain. And there is so much to get interested in close around, indoors and out, that although the weather has been most changeable the whole time with hardly two days fine together, we have been as happy as possible, always finding plenty of occupation and amusement, and there has only been one day too bad for even a short walk. And that one was the day of the eclipse, <10> on which it rained unceasingly from morning to night! Today it is blowing a hurricane, something like the equinox, but the sun shines bright all the time. The gardener complains that no fruit will ripen, and that the many of the annuals he turned out won’t grow or flower, but then the same story is heard every where, and Wilkins <11> is loud in his lamentations about the apricots. There is a Spirea in the garden which I am sure you would admire, and I must dry a bit to show you, for it very different <sic> from any thing we have got at home. Mamie wishes me to thank you for having thought of her chocolate, and sends you all kinds of messages, and with Tilly’s love and mine,
believe me dear Papa, your affectionate daughter
Rosamond.
Tilly says she wrote once to you at Paris quite at first, and I do not remember how many times we have written since you have been out of England. I think about three times each, and Mama much oftener. There are no fourpenny stamps here, but I hope two blues will do as well.Notes:
1. Speddoch, Dumfriesshire, 10 mi NW of Dumfries: home of WHFT’s daughter Matilda.
2. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
3. Near Dunfermline, Scotland.
4. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal ].
5. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
6. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
7. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
8. Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom (1837–1901), Empress of India (1876–1901).
9. John Gilchrist-Clark (1830–1881), Scottish JP; WHFT’s son-in-law.
10. 18 July 1860. WHFT watched it in Vittoria, Spain [see Doc. No: 08157].
11. George Wilkins (b. 1814), gardener at Lacock.