Durnford Street
Stonehouse
Plymouth
Christmas Day 1854
My dear Henry
I cannot tell you how very sorry I was to hear that the lawsuit had gone against you; I did not see it myself in the “Times”, <1> as I am usually a good deal in arrear with the Papers – but Mr Boyer told me of it – at the same time expressing his great concern & how very hard upon you he thought it was. It seems, as far as I understand it, to turn upon some quibble of Chemistry – but it is nevertheless exceedingly vexatious & unfair, & Milord <2> as well as I, are very sorry & indignant at the result. Pray dear Henry tell me if you mean to try it again – which Mr Boyer says you can easily do if you think it worth while – by merely some slight change in the form of words – or if you intend to let the question remain as it is, tell me what are your expences, & my mite shall be forth-coming. –
I heard of Val’s <3> safe arrival at Rome, with Ld Fordwich <4> & our Mr Hay; whom he found a most agreable <sic> travelling companion. They hired a carriage at Civita Va & bowled along merrily with the Post horses to Rome – They were just in time for the ceremonies of the 8th in honour of the Immaculata Concezione <5> – The Pope <6> officiated at High Mass in St Peter’s – & in the evening the Dome was illuminated, & the Capitol too. They had also had a ride across the Campagna to the “single Pine”, in the direction of Veii – They seemed extremely busy & very happy. – Pray ask Amandier <7> if she received a letter from me written last Tuesday? I mentioned in it that if any of your woman–kind had any little objects to send to the Crimea, they might let me have them to go in a parcel I hope to send in a very few days – this week, by the St Jean d’Acre – called by the Sailors the Jenny de acres. I hope Constance <8> also received a Wild Turkey for Christmas? Give her, my nieces & nephew <9> & Amandier all my best love – & wishes for a merry Christmas & a happy New Year.
Ever yr affte Sister
Caroline
Notes:
1. The Times (London)
2. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
3. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
4. Viscount Fordwich (1806–1856), MP.
5. Immaculate conception.
6. Giovanni Maria Mastai–Ferretti (1792–1878), Pope Pius IX (1846–1878).
7. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal ].
8. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
9. 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.