Teplitz
June 30th 1842
My dear Henry
I cannot tell you how much pleasure your letter <1> gave me – It arrived today, having been 10 days en route, or rather 9, as it actually reached Teplitz last night – wh is a day quicker than they used to be. I was beginning to pine for some tidings of you all, & to imagine all sorts of untoward events, tho’ in fact I could not have heard sooner, & you were very good to lose no time in writing – I hope you are improved by the journey, & that Horatia <2> has been restored to Mamma <3> quite well & blooming as well as safe; which I have been most anxious for, though of course at first she must have expected to find her tanned & thinned after so long a journey –but as you mention neither of yourselves, I can but hope. – Your good account of Mama [sic] delighted me; for I had heard nothing from her since 3rd June – I think Horatia was right to eschew the Ball on the day of her arrival – I see you got to London two days after we reached Teplitz, & the same day Pe Clary & his Bride made their entrance for the [illegible deletion] first time since their marriage – They were received with all kinds of demonstrations – The principal authorities went out to meet them, the Schoolchildren walked in procession with Banners, the farmers (or Richter) as they are here called,) attended on horseback, & triumphal Arches covered with green branches were erected on their road. In the evening a Corps of Miners of abt 200 men, in their uniforms paraded before the Schloss with music, every man holding a Berglicht; wh had a very good effect – & the next day we all illuminated. The Bride is very handsome & clever, only 16, with charming manners & has been used to do the honours of her Father’s house ever since she was 12 years old – Our friends the Waldsteins <4> are also here, all but Tony, <5> who is still at his studies at Lentomischl – & the Westphalens & O’Donnells – Yesterday & today have been the first very hot & fine days we have yet had – Ernest <6> has been hitherto uncommonly well – But today has a little gout in the foot – As the Baths generally give pain at first, he is only surprized he has been so well all this time. – Your trip up the river must have been very pleasant; I have not yet settled whether I shall go by Ostend or Antwerp – but I expect to set out in abt a fortnight with the two children <7> – As soon as I arrive I must take Val. to school at Mr Attwoods <8>’ – He does not at all dislike the thoughts of it, & I shd think wd be the happier for having some companions.
Goodbye my dear Henry – If you are inclined to write you may still do so by return of Post, as I may not perhaps set out quite so soon, the time wd still be sufficient reckoning fm 20th July, (wh wd give time for a letter) tho’ I had rather be a little en avance, than driven to the last moment; but I might be accidentally retarded; so please tell Mamma that she may go on writing, & [illegible deletion] the letters wd follow me if I was gone –
Yr very affte Sister
Caroline
[envelope:]
England
H. Fox Talbot Esqre
31 Sackville Street
London
Notes:
1. Letter not located.
2. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
3. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
4. The family of Count Waldstein. [See Doc. No: 04347].
5. [See Doc. No: 04347].
6. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
7. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’, and Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.
8. Thomas Attwood (1783–1856), radical MP, banker & manufacturer.