The Winter Villa <1>
Plymouth
Jany 2nd 1858
My dear Henry
I hope Amandier <2> received a long letter from me written yesterday, with all our good wishes for you all during the forthcoming year.
I grieve to say I received a letter today from Uncle William, from, Melbury, <3> telling me that uncle Harry <4> had been very ill for 3 days with a bilious attack. Dr Bence Jones <5> had been sent for, & when he left them the day before, Uncle Harry was rather better. He wrote on the 31st But Mr Gaisford <6> has written to me from London, dated yesterday – He says Dr Jones wrote to excuse him-self from visiting him that day, as the moment he arrived in Town, he was telegraphed for again. I am so very very sorry! Theresa <7> is there, & Caroline <8> expected. –
Mr Gaisford is very ill himself with cold & cough, but intended nevertheless to start for Marseilles this evening – & was to rest there if not better –
Ever dear Henry
Yrs affly
Caroline
Notes:
1. Winter Villa, near Plymouth: estate of the Earls 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. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat from Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.
4. Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).
5. Henry Bence Jones (1814–1873), physician and chemist.
6. Capt Thomas Gaisford (1816–1898), JP, WHFT’s brother-in-law.
7. Theresa Anna Maria Digby, née Fox Strangways (1814–1874), WHFT’s cousin.
8. Caroline Leonora Fox Strangways, née Murray, Countess of Ilchester (1788–1819).