Edinburgh
Feb: 3d
My dear Papa,
We were much interested by your fragment of telegraph, and Mama could not be persuaded that the outside was not made of real wood, as it is so hard and shiny. I did not write before, for fear of your not being at Lacock on Saturday, and now I must take my chance, as since Reuben’s<1> departure we don't get our letters on Sunday, and therefore have not heard from you since your letter to me. Have you seen Ld Mt Edgcumbe<2> in town? – We were surprised to learn from Aunt Caroline the other day, that not only they were still at Mt E. but were not even sure of going to London at all, as Milord could not make up his mind whether to take a house or not. He has been very long indeed with no one but Flora to take care of him. We shall be anxious to get a report from Lacock, how things look in general and what has suffered. Yesterday we feared a return of winter, as the wind was blowing quite a gale, and very keen; but today, though still high, it is much milder. But we must, I suppose, have some cold weather to go through presently. Did Mama <3> tell you what a lovely day we had for Dalmeny? So clear, calm and sunny, more like Italian winter than English; we were able to admire the beauties of the place to perfection, and enjoy a delightful walk with Lady Rosebery, Mrs Primrose & all the family party, to the end of a ruins of the old Castle, close to the Water’s edge. The Firth <4> was so blue, the opposite shore so clear and sunny, and the distant Pentlands and Arthur’s Seat so distinct! – Altogether a lovely scene. Cramond House ,where the Duchess of Kent <5> spent part of last summer, is about half way between Dalmeny and Granton. We crossed Cramond Water on our way there to Dalmeny, a pretty rocky stream, like the Water of Leith at Collinton, buried in trees, the houses of the village scattered about among them.
You must really drive there some day, for you had have no idea there was anything so pretty, merely on the Queensferry road, not more than a mile beyond that quarry we looked into one day at the edge of Corstorphine hill. We have not had the least fog since you left, and plenty of sun every day till Yesterday.
Charles <5> has written twice, very cheerfully, and not complaining of fatigue o6 anything! – he talks of having the Classical tutor, again, if he (the tutor) can spare him the time, and he has promised faithfully to be a good correspondent in future.
Next week we shall have Tilly <7> to ourselves for two days, as Mr C. <8>is going to Dumfries for some meetings. She is making herself very happy with preparations for the fancy ball, and concocting her dress; and I hope she wo’nt [sic] be disappointed or find the crowd too overwhelming to see anything comfortably. As for us, we have quite given up any idea of it, for it is such an immense trouble to make up costumes, that we all felt decidedly lazy.
Goodbye, dear Papa, please send a report of yourself & everything at Lacock. Love from all.
Your affectionate daughter
Rosamond.
Notes:
1. Reuben Bennett (b. 1841), Lacock Abbey footman.
2. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law
3. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
4. Firth of Forth.
5. Mother of Queen Victoria.
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. John Gilchrist-Clark (1830–1881), Scottish JP; WHFT’s son-in-law.