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Document number: 3481
Date: Sat 18 Mar 1837
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: EDGCUMBE Caroline Augusta, née Feilding
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA37-009
Last updated: 1st September 2003

Mt Edgcumbe <1>

Saturday March 18th 1837

My dear Henry

Many thanks for your letter & good news – I am so happy to hear dear Constance <2> is doing so well, & hope she will be more watchfully attended this time – Horatia <3> is still here with me & joins with Ld Valletort <4> & me in wishing you both joy of your new Babe & Ela <5> of her little Sister – Is it not rather earlier than was expected? When I saw your letter this morning, I began to wonder quelle mouche t’avait piqué tout d’un coup, <6> having received one only yesterday from you – the real cause of the missive never occurred to me – I am sorry I have no such good news to send you in return – but do not tell Constance of it, as I am sure it would agitate her – Poor dear little Bimbo <7> had a fall today simply running outside the Nursery door – the boards had been washed & he slipped up with his arm twisted somehow under him – I arrived only 5 minutes after, & found him lying in the housekeeper’s lap, with his poor little arm quite bent, & his face perfectly colourless – I was afraid it was broken the moment I saw it, but he was quite quiet – & the surgeon a very clever man soon arrived & said <illegible deletion> both bones were broken, but not in a bad place, which would have been the case had it been nearer the wrist – He set it immediately, as gently as he could – it hurt him however very much, poor little darling, but he behaved as well as possible; with as much patience & courage as any grown up person – the moment it was bandaged up, colour began to return & his spirits too – & we had some difficulty in keeping him quiet the rest of the day – the doctor considers it a slight accident at his age, & thinks he will not suffer any more pain, & that his arm will be as strong as ever & as straight – only he must be kept still, the grand difficulty – he has been fast asleep this evening till now, (10 o’clock,) & woke up to eat some bread & butter – He was very much pleased to hear of his new cousin – Goodnight dear Henry –

Yr affte sister

Caroline

Write again soon & let us know how Constance is going on –

W. Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
65 Harley Street
Cavendish Square
London


Notes:

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

2. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.

3. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.

4. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.

5. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter, and Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.

6. What fly had stung you, or what had bitten you all of a sudden.

7. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.

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