Mount Edgcumbe <1>
March 9th 1853
My dear Henry
I have not heard from Laycock Abbey for an age, & am very anxious to know how Amandier <2> is, & how you are all going on. We have had a long & pleasant visit from Captn Key, <3> & from Mrs Edgcumbe & four of her Children – Ernestine <4> has been very happy with so many companions – they left us this morning however & the house feels quite blank Captn Key went away ten days ago, in the hopes of getting a ship. I made him a present of your Etymologies, <5> & he writes me word he likes the book so much. He says that his Uncle, Mr Thos Key, <6> told him that he took his degree at the same time you did – & spoke very highly, amongst other attainments, of your knowledge of Optics at that time. He says his Uncle is considered a great Philologist & admires your book much.
The cold weather has left us again I hope – & our poor tender plants that were coming into flower fancying the Spring was arrived, & had to be matted up for fear of the frost nipping the young leaves & blossoms, are again uncovered.
I wish you would come & see us some day – We expect Aunt Mary & Mary <7> this month – They have promised a long, comfortable visit. It would be very nice indeed if you cd manage to come at the same time – do – & I will give you notice when I know their day. Milord <8> is tolerably in health – but no better as to stiffness, & rather out of spirits. Ernestine is flourishing – Charlie <9> is taking pains, & Val <10> reading hard.
Give my best love to Constance, chicks <11> & Amandier –
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
2. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
3. Sir Astley Cooper Key (1821–1888), admiral.
4. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.
5. WHFT, English Etymologies (London: J. Murray, 1847).
6. Thomas Hewitt Key (179–1875), philologist.
7. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776–1855), WHFT’s aunt, and Mary Thereza Talbot (1795–1861), WHFT’s cousin.
8. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
9. Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.
10. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
11. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife, and Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter, Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter, Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter and Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.