Edinburgh
Thursday.
My dear Papa,
Your book <1> was duly returned by Stillie, <2> accompanied by the enclosed note.
I hope you had a prosperous journey, and that we shall soon hear from you in London, though I don’t expect you got there so soon as you said! –
Mama <3> and Ela <4>returned last night from Dabton, <5> where they left all well; the children appear to have been very sociable and good all the time, and Jack <6> is making progress in his spelling books, having to his great delight succeeded in reading the other day Is he up? Yes he is!..
It is exceedingly warm today, and we are hoping for rain. The bushes have made great progress, the ribes are open, and one of the little gardens is gay with a bright scarlet rhododendron, and the lovely little lilac one in full flower.
We heard in a roundabout way the other day that Aunt Caroline <7> has taken the same house in London they have had two years, 24 Charles Street, but will not be settled there until after Easter. It is wonderful how fond she is of that house, notwithstanding it’s [sic] being so inconvenient in many ways.
Everyone here send their love. Your affectionate daughter
Rosamond.
Notes:
1. Presumably an account book. The accompanying note has been lost.
2. John G Stilwell.
3. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
4. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
5. Dabton, Dumfriesshire: home of WHFT’s daughter Matilda
6. John Gilchrist-Clark (1830–1881), Scottish JP; WHFT’s son-in-law.
7. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.