Mount Edgcumbe ^<1>Devonport

Feb^y 11^th 1865

My dear Henry

I have been intending to write to you again lately, & chuse this is an appropriate day, as I can wish you many happy returns of it. I heard lately from Harriot Mundy, ^<2> the only person who ever gives me any family news. She says she has not heard all particulars about affairs at Melbury, ^<3> excepting that the income is much larger than she thought. I am glad of it, as Melbury can be properly kept up. She says it is £42,000 a year, without the Wiltshire property, (which was left to Uncle John ^<4>), & no incumbrances.

Sophy Ilchester ^<5> is gone to Old Burlington S^t – Harriot cannot make out that she is to have Abbotsbury ^<6> which I am sorry for – She ought to have it, as grand Mama Ilchester ^<7> had it before. M^rs Strangways, the widow of Harry the clergyman, ^<8> died the other day – She was a Sister of James Buller of Downes.

You must be very cold at Edinburgh! All the Midland counties have been wrapped in snow – Even they have had a good deal at Torquay, when there was only rain here – But last night a good deal fell – Since melted. It is cold however, & till within the last few days we have had perpetual rain. We should have been at Cotehele ^<9> long before this, but Ernestine ^<10> has such a bad cold, that I wished her to be under the Doctor’s care here for a short time – & it would not have been prudent to remove to a colder place, & more draughty house, till she was better. She is getting better – but I suppose we shall not start for a few days more. Let me have a line from you, & I hope soon to write to Amandier. ^<11> I hope Amandier is pretty well? – Lucy Nicholl & Kate ^<12> are at Torquay – Ernestine begs to send her love – & give mine also to your ladies. ^<13>

Y^r very aff^te Sister
Caroline

The accounts f^m Cannes – are much the same – pretty good – but generally speaking, very bad weather. Charlie ^<14> is there still I believe

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Notes:

1. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.

2. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.

3. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.

4. John George Charles Fox Strangways (1803–1859), MP.

5. Lady Sophia Penelope Jolliffe, née Sheffield (1822-1882); first m. WTHF Strangways, 21 July 1857; second m. 1^st Baron Hylton.

6. Abbotsbury, Dorset: home of William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways.

7. Juliana Maria Strangways, née Digby (d. 1842).

8. See Doc. No: 00481.

9. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.

10. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.

11. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].

12. Lucy Mary Nicholl (1824-1876), of Merthyr Mawr.

13. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife; Ela Theresa Talbot (25 Apr 1835 - 25 Apr 1893), WHFT's 1^st daughter; Rosamond Constance Talbot (16 Mar 1837 - 7 May 1906), 'Rose'; 'Monie'; artist & WHFT's 2^nd daughter; died & buried at San Remo, Italy, with a memorial at Lacock; Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, née Talbot (25 Feb 1839-1927), 'Tilly', WHFT's 3^rd daughter.

14. Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.