Mt Edgcumbe <1>
Sunday April 30th 1837
My dear Henry
I think we are pretty well quits as to dilatoriness in answering each other’s letters – indeed of the two you have the least to complain of in that respect – so I shall make no excuses for having delayed so long thanking you for your last, & the charming books you sent me – I did not expect one for myself, & was much toucheé on opening the Ladies Botany, <2> to find my name already inscribed therein – I have read part of it, & it seems to me the most easy of comprehension of any book I ever met with on the subject – It is very interesting too – I had no idea before of half the wonders contained in one little Buttercup – As to the other books, you don’t suppose I gave them to Bimbo <3> at once they are far too interesting & precious – By the time they arrived too, he was a great deal better & able to amuse himself in a variety of ways, & besides had had a number of storybooks & Albums lent him by different friends – & as he is full young for Jack the Giant killer, <4> I thought I would reserve it a little longer, or only give him a little at a time, & en attendant <5> read them myself – I have read to him Tom Thumb, <6> & he has read with some assistance the greatest part of Cock Robin <7> – he reads tolerably well stories in words of one syllable – but is not very fond of it – & there was no getting on at all, till I instituted rewards – He has a great turn for drawing, & a very correct eye, & is now quite well – which is the principal thing – he can use his arm perfectly, except that the wrist does not turn easily yet – but that will come in time. – Mr Harris dined here a few days ago – he enquired anxiously about you, & whether he should find you in town, where he is going or gone – he has some new papers for you I believe. – What a bad account Mamma <8> gives of Papa! <9> how sad it is to be al[missing text]<10> laid up in England, & how dull to be shut up in that dingy room in Sackville St! <11> I pity you all when I look at the blue sea, & green leaves just coming out – I am afraid poor Gwynne <12> is very ill too – Is Amandier <13> come yet? Give my best love to Constance & Ela <14> & l’Innomminata <15> –
Ever my dear Henry Yr affte Sister
Caroline
W Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
65 Harley Street
London
Notes:
1. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
2. John Lindley Ladies’ botany, or, A familiar introduction to the study of the natural system of botany (London: James Ridgway and Sons, 1837–1843).
3. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
4. Jack the giant-killer (Devonport: Samuel and John Keys, 1835).
5. Meanwhile.
6. The History of Tom Thumb (Devonport: Samuel and John Keys, 1835).
7. The Death & burial of Cock Robin (Devonport: Samuel and John Keys, 1835).
8. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
9. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
10. Text torn away under seal.
11. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
12. Mrs Gwynne (d. winter 1841/1842), lady’s maid, cook and housekeeper to Elisabeth Feilding.
13. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
14. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife, and Ela Theresa Talbot (25 Apr 1835 - 25 Apr 1893), WHFT's 1st daughter.
15. She means the ‘unamed’, that is, the recently-born Rosamond Constance Talbot (16 Mar 1837 - 7 May 1906), 'Rose'; 'Monie'; artist & WHFT's 2nd daughter; died & buried at San Remo, Italy, with a memorial at Lacock.