Freiburg
in the Black Forest.
Sunday night Oct^r 24^th 1847.

My dear Henry

I received your letter yesterday per favour of Uncle William ^<1> – It was lucky I was obliged to stay two days there to repose & wash, as otherwise I should not have had it – for it only arrived last Friday night. I wrote a long acc^t of our proceedings on Thursday last to Amandier, ^<2> from Frankfort – who I suppose has communicated them to you – Uncle W^m drank tea with me both evenings & took me to see the picture Gallery, Ariadne, Römer Saal, & several Artists’ Studio’s[sic] in the old Palace of the Teutonic knights, in Sachsenhausen. On Saturday morning we left Frankfort early, & got to Heidelberg in 3 hours. It was Charlie’s ^<3> birthday, when he attained the discreet age of nine years! I made him a present of a whip with a handle carved out of Stag’s horn & he was very happy running about the ruins of Heidelberg. ^<4> I had never seen it before – & certainly was charmed – the only thing I did not quite like was the red-colour of the stone, which I had not expected. The morning was foggy, but the Sun came out afterw^ds & shewed off the ruins to great advantage. The view also from the bridge is very picturesque At 6 o’clock we went on again to Carlsruhe, & got there at 8 – The Inn there is very comfortable. Today we had a five & ¼ hour’s [sic] railroad to this place – part of the country is fine – with irregular hills – & this seems very pretty. It was not dark, when we arrived, so Charlie & I went to see the Cathedral, which is extremely fine, both inside & out. The Spire is entirely à jour ^<5> – & it seems extraordinary how it can stand. All the windows are of painted glass & particularly fine. We go on tomorrow halfway to Constance – It is very mountainous for 5 or 6 hours – & we must have 6 horses. Uncle W^m did not seem to have the least apprehension ab^t my Swiss journey – but advised me to make fresh enquiries at Constance. Nobody seems to think they will really come to blows – but perhaps the Austrians, in order to keep the peace, may prevent people passing – They say this is the case on the S^t Gothard – but I shall find out the truth at Constance. Pray do not be uneasy – as I shall be very prudent.

I have not had a line from anyone but you, since I set out – either from home or f^m Italy.

Please write to Milan, Leghorn & Naples – I must to bed –

Y^r very aff^te Sister
Caroline

Why should we purchase experience in Railways at ever so low a price? Stilwell ^<6> takes it very coolly – but I suppose we should lose were we to sell now? I hope you got my letter f^m Ostend? I think I have behaved very well to have written 8 letters to different people since I left England – & this is only the 8^th day.

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Notes:

1. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4^th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.

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

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

4. Heidelberg Castle, originating from the 14^th century and built from red sandstone.

5. Open work.

6. Of Stilwell & Company.