Stonehouse –
Plymouth
March 27^th 1855

My dear Henry

I send you a n short extract from a letter of Charlotte Traherne ^<1>’s to Harriot Mundy, ^<2> which she sent me to read. I liked it so much that I thought you would like to see it too. – I am very glad Charles ^<3> is going to lodge with Simmy – I conclude Simmy is also to be his tutor –? Val ^<4> liked him so much. A–propos of your remark upon public schools, that you have no opinion of any of them, Milord ^<5> said he remembered Talleyrand’s ^<6> observation –: “ La meilleure éducation du monde est celle des Public Schools en Angleterre – mais il faut avouer que celle–là est détestable ^<7>” – So you see there is no choice. Our Charlie ^<8> is^<9> going to a private tutor in Essex, after Easter. He seems very glad to go – as he says he wants companions very much – which is true. At present he goes daily to a very nice man at Plymouth, a Clergyman, who teaches him in the morning – but in the afternoons he is often obliged to walk or ride alone – We generally make expeditions to M^t E. ^<10> when the weather permits – but that is not often at this season. We heard two days ago from Val – They were at Naples, & had been to Amalfi, Salerno, Pæstum – & all those most enchanting & never to be forgotten places – He said he thought so much of me at Pæstum, because it was the place of all others I had talked about so much to him.

They proposed leaving Naples on the 14^th & going by San Germano, Frosinone &c to Val Montone – & thence riding with their own baggage, thro’ the mountains by Palestrina Olevano, Subiaco & Tivoli to Rome. They will soon be home, now I should think. –

Will you tell me how a person is to set about becoming a Fellow of the R. Society ^<11> – A friend of our’s [sic] wishes to be an F.R.S. Will you please write me word how this is to be accomplished directly – because we want to answer the letter which has already waited some time. –

Ernestine ^<12> has just received a nice long letter from Rosamond, ^<13> which she begs you will thank her for, & tell her that her poor Canaries are both dead –but we have still got a bullfinch & 2 doves. I am so very glad, dear Henry, that my contribution will be of use – I have often lamented I never could do anything to help you on in any way with your discovery – as Mamma ^<14> used to do in many ways. –

Y^r very aff^te
Caroline

Emily Shelburne ^<15> has just got a little Girl, to their great delight. How correct the “Times” ^<16> has been throughout, is fully proved now by the evidence before the Committee. Alas for the Soldiers! to whom so much misery might have been spared!
Extract
What a mutilated life is left to us here – The old line is always running in ^<17> my head “ la moitié de ma vie a mis l’autre au tombeau ^<18>” – How many thoughts & feelings now lose their other half & will never be called forth again in this world. That the time is short, that we have the prospect of reunion, that there is a blessed use to be made of afflictions, seem to me the most comforting thoughts that can suggest themselves to us both, when we are haunted with the feeling of orphanhood. That disinterested & unfailing love bought by no merit of ours’ [sic], & not to be lost by any faults, is gone – we must thank God for having enjoyed them^<19> so long & for the blessed assurance that they are entered into the rest which remaineth for the people of God.

[envelope]
Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham

---

Notes:

1. Charlotte Louisa 'Charry' Traherne, née Talbot (1800–1880), WHFT’s cousin.

2. Harriot Georgiana Mundy, née Frampton (1806-1886), WHFT’s cousin & sister-in-law.

3. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.

4. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4^th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.

5. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3^rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.

6. Charles Maurice de Talleyrand–Périgord (1754–1838), diplomatist and statesman.

7. “The best education in the world is that of the Public Schools in England – but one must confess that that is appalling”.

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

9. Missing text.

10. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.

11. Royal Society of London.

12. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.

13. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2^nd daughter.

14. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.

15. Lady Emily Shelburne.

16. The Times (London)

17. Missing text.

18. “One half of my life has put the other half in the grave”.

19. Missing text.