Moreton <1>
Friday June 17th 1836
Dear Henry
I received your letter this morning, a moment before I left Abbotsbury, <2> where I only arrived yesterday, having been detained at Mt E. <3> two days longer than I originally intended; viz: Monday, because I could not get ready before, & Tuesday on Bimbo’s <4> account, who was not well – He is quite recovered however, now, & I was very sorry to pay Lady Ilchester <5> such a short visit – we had an extremely snug tête-à-tête, however, the greatest part of the time – I arrived early & found there my Uncle Charles, Susan & Fanny, <6> but they went home after our 5 o’clock dinner – He is grown very thin & old, & so is Fanny – I am afraid I cannot be with you by the 20th & should have contrived a moment yesterday to tell you so, if I had recollected how long it will would be before this can reach es you – Another reason why I did not think it necessary to settle the precise day till I came here, was that I was fully persuaded you were now in London – I am sorry you put off your journey in expectation of me – but let it stand thus – If Ld V. <7> hurries me, on account of having found a house, I will set off from here as soon as I can after the 20th wh I suppose will be 22nd (on account of the expediency, not to say necessity of washing;) if & <sic> I hear nothing from you to hurry me either, I might extend my visit here a day or two – I might then even have several days for Laycock Abbey, if the difficulty of finding a pied à terre <8> is so great as Ld V– intimates – & if you cannot stay all the time, I dare say Constance <9> will take care of me & Bimbo for a little while – Lady I. desired me to say she could not send the cuttings by me, as her gardener was gone to London for the Horticultural exhibition – where he has gained a medal for his lovely mesembrianthemums – but that as soon as he returns, you shall have everything you can wish for –
Yrs affly
Caroline
Pray answer this as if I am already on my road towards you it will not signify, & if I am not it will hasten my departure Love to Constance & Ela <10> –Yr affte Sister
Caroline
W. Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Moreton, Dorset: home of the Frampton family.
2. Abbotsbury, Dorset: home of William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways.
3. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
4. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
5. Juliana Maria Strangways, née Digby (d. 1842).
6. The Hon Charles Redlynch Fox-Strangways (d. 1836), and his daughters Susan and Fanny.
7. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
8. A small, occasional lodging.
9. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
10. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.