Mount Edgcumbe <1>
Sunday Decr 19th 1852 Finished Monday
My dear Henry
I am glad poor Wright <2> got pretty well again before he left you. You need not be surprised at my black seal – It is for Mr Marsham, <3> the Husband of Flora’s third Sister <4> – Poor man, he had been a Martyr to Asthma all his life, & it ended at last in dropsy – Flora saw him a very short time ago in London where he had gone for advice. It happened at last quite suddenly in his sleep, without any suffering. Tell Constance & Amandier <5> – that they may not be frightened at my black paper when I write. So I suppose the Governmts are out – but it is only on the authority of the Times <6> article that I form this surmise – for as a friend of mine, a great Tory says: “It would not be logical to go out if beaten on the Budget, in men who profess to keep their opinions at the disposal of the majority of the House of Commons.” I am very sorry to see in the papers of an unfortunate occurrence at Gensano – Our friend Duca Sforza Cesarini, <7> in endeavouring to disperse & terrify a mob Who had collected under his windows, & were shouting & hooting in defiance of him, took a gun from his friend who had just returned from shooting, & accidentally killed his own Cook – The accoun[t] further states that he gave himself up to justice, & that 4 Gendarmes are lodged in his Palace to guard him. I am very sorry for him – they were both exceedingly kind to us, & their little Boys used to play with Ernestine. <8> I think his wife was a Cousin of Constance’s or Harriot’s <9> – I am not sure which. – I heard today from Mr Gaisford, <10> from Agaicio – He describes it as a most lovely spot – & the climate, only one week from London, as delightful – Magnificent mountains, some covered with snow, while near the sea it was only too hot – The principal street is lined with an avenue of orange trees, larger than any at Nice or Sorrento, & laden with fruit. There were carnations in full bloom. He was going over the mountains to Bastia, & thence by Steamer to Leghorn & Rome, where he meant to arrive for Christmas day. At Agaicio the festivities in honour of the Empire were going on – & opposite his window was a grand inscription in coloured lamps, saying: “ vive la Corse qui à donné deux Empereurs a la France. <11> Ld Mt E. <12> is better – He can move the elbow more – But he makes no attempt at leaving his bed yet. He likes now to be read to. Charlie <13> came home on the 7th Val <14> came yesterday. He was so pleased at Ld Carnarvon’s <15> Success, which he says he so thoroughly deserved – they are great friends I believe. Give my love to tutti quanti <16> –
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
Notes:
1. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
2. James Wright, footman to the Talbots & Constable for Lacock. [See Doc. No: 06706].
3. William Marsham (d. 1852).
4. Caroline's husband's nieces through his sister, Lady Caroline Sophia Edgcumbe (d. 10 April 1824), who was the first wife of Reginald George Macdonald (d. 1873). Louisa Emily (sometimes Emily Louisa) (d. 1897) married Charles William Marsham on 13 April 1841. The Honorable Flora Isabella Clementina (1822-1899) was Maid of Honor and later Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria.
5. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife, and Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
6. The Times (London).
7. Duca Lorenzo Sforza-Cesarini.
8. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.
9. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.
10. Capt Thomas Gaisford (1816–1898), JP, WHFT’s brother-in-law.
11. Long live Corsica, who gave two emperors to France.
12. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
13. Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.
14. Lt Horace Charles Gaisford (1851–1879), WHFT’s nephew.
15. Henry George Herbert, 2nd Earl of Carnarvon (1772–1833).
16. The whole group.