Croce di Malta Genova.
Tuesday April the 21st
My dear Papa,
I received your letter yesterday by which you announced your intended departure from Lacock on Monday or Tuesday – if you really set out today I can only wish you such weather as we have today; perfectly glorious, only too hot in the sun, – and this after two such days of fog and pouring rain, that we did not hope for a clearance for at least a week to come. I hope this is really Summer at last, and that Mama’s <1> recovery will be much favoured by it. Since I last wrote her progress has been very variable: she had a return of most acute rheumatic pains in the side, and suffered so much, one night especially, that we sent off in haste for the doctor, and were much alarmed about her. But his remedies, (as usual leeches & blisters) seem to have had a beneficial effect, for the pain gradually subsided, and these last two days she has had quieter nights, more appetite, and altogether appears much more in her natural state. Today she has been able to sit up a short time in her room, and tomorrow if it continues fine, she is to try the drawing-room sofa for an hour or so, and enjoy the benefit of sunshine, of which not a ray can penetrate into our dark bedrooms.
Mamie <2> & I had been this morning to visit the Botanic garden, and discovered it at the top of the Palace of the University, after climbing up three stairs flights of marble stairs! Such a curious position for a garden. From it the view is splendid, but the garden does not seem well kept, nor to contain many curiosities, except ferns in abundance. Ela <3> is now gone there, in company with two of the Miss Stuarts, to whom our description sounded attractive. We have not taken any drives yet, as we have hardly been able to leave Mama for sufficiently long a time to go any distance – at least not more than one of us at a time – but now I hope we shall be able to explore the neighbourhood where so many beautiful gardens are to be seen; and I daresay we shall not have exhausted them all before you come to make one of the party. If you go by the Corniche road mind you stop a day at San Remo, and advise Goodwin <4> (whilst you are searching for flowers,) to explore the old curious town in all directions, that he may have an idea of the place where we spent so many months. The Duke & Duchess of Buccleugh <5> with their two daughters are here on their way to Florence for the marriage fêtes. We saw them yesterday, and they were glad to spend an hour of such a rainy day in looking over our collection of photographs & sketches. I am sorry to say the Duchess did not give a very favourable report of the health of Lady Katie, <6> whom she had often seen at Cannes, where they also spent the winter. You will no doubt see Aunt Caroline <7>as you pass through. We have been advising her & Ernestine <8> to come on here & pay a visit to us and to Genoa, but she says it is too far. I am afraid my letter is too late for today’s post, but perhaps may go in the morning early:
so good bye, for the present, dear Papa, love from all, & believe me your very affectionate daughter
Rosamond.
Notes:
1. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
2. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
3. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
4. George Goodwin (d. 1875), footman at Lacock Abbey.
5. Walter Francis, 5th Duke of Buccleuch and 7th Duke of Queensberry (1806–1884) and Charlotte Anne, née Thynne (d. 1895).
6. Possibly a sister of Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
7. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
8. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.
9. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
10. New University Club, St James's Street, London.