Mount Edgcumbe <1>
Friday Septr 24th 1852
My dear Henry
I did not answer your last letter directly – but have been in expectation of perhaps seeing you arrive here, un beau notion. Pray do come, if you put your Cornish tour into execution – but I shall not put much faith in it till I see you – for you know you are but a broken reed, I am sorry to say that Milord <2> is very dim indeed – He got better for a day or two, & since that has had a return of Gout & general illness – & is very suffering & low indeed – He has not eaten anything larger than half a crown for many days; & is a good deal out of spirits. – I am glad to hear your garden is so prosperous this year – I may say the same of ours – I never saw such a profusion of orange flowers – It is quite like Nice – & they are going on Still – The Myrtles too are still covered with bloom – & we have some splendid autumnal roses, white Japan lilies, Scarlet Geraniums, Plumbago, Agapanthus, all-coloured Verbenas, &c – &c – The weather is very fine now – & I never saw the views more clear or beautiful, even in the height of summer – so you should come now.
Yrs afftely
Caroline
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
2. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.