The Winter Villa <1>
Sunday May 1st 1859
My dear Henry
Valletort <2> was elected yesterday, & came in at the head of the Poll!
His warmest partisans did not expect this result till very late in the day – tho’ he was at the head at the end of the first hour’s polling, & remained there throughout – & in the morning though everything looked propitious, we were all still uncertain whether he would come in at all.
We all went on Friday to the nomination.
The husting’s were erected in front of the Portico of the Royal Hotel at Plymouth – which I dare say you remember. There is an open place before it – & we had a window in the house opposite. Unfortunately it was nearer the other candidates than Val – so we heard them tolerably well – but we could scarcely catch anything of what he said. However he spoke very long, & extremely well, as everybody said who heard; & the adversaries were completely taken aback as they had & kept twitting him with not having called a public meeting – which they thought he wd not do because he was not able to speak – They had called him a “dumb Boy” – & some of the mob kept calling out “I am sure he’s not a dumb Boy!” – The cheering was vehement for all parties & the show of hands was clearly in favour of Val – When the Mayor declared (something like your returning Officer of 1771,) that it was in favour of the others.
Of course Val demanded a Poll – & yesterday we went again, to the Committee Room first, at about 3 o’clock The Poll was to close at four so the excitement was immense. First we went into the Committee Room where we were so much cheered we did not know which way to look. We then went on to the Husting’s, & waited for the coming of the Mayor & Candidates with the polling Books &c We were there an hour, much amused with the enthusiasm of the mob – One active Sailor got on the edge of the Husting’s, flourished a penny trumpet, & called out 3 cheers for Ld Valletort, 3 cheers for Ly Mt E, 3 cheers for his Lordship, 3 cheers for the Navy, & one cheer for the Army! All which were duly responded to at – At last the numbers were declared.
Valletort 1153
Collier <3> 1086
White <4> 964 –
Val made a short speech, perfectly inaudible, owing to the groans of Collier’s mob. Collier himself was not heard much more – White rather better, from having powerful lungs – Collier was dreadfuly sulky at having lost his exalted position – The three candidates handed their watches to the Mayor, in order that he might affix their seals to the books – & it was very droll that, no one else being in the line, Ernestine <5> had to return White his watch – Collier would not help tho’ he was next Ernestine – he was much too grumpy – So that she & White had both to stretch over – & she was obliged to hold the watch so tight for fear it should drop, that it looked exactly as if they were shaking hands!
The mob was vociferous – & so dense, & swaying about that several little boys had to be tossed about over the heads of the people, & finally landed for safety in the Reporters box in front of the husting’s. Lady Abercorn <6> & her daughter Ly Louisa, & Katie <7> were in a tremendous state of excitement, tho’ Ly A. has not ceased to be a Whig. One man in the mob shook hands violently with her; & several shouted out to Val, “Lady Kate” & “your Mother” – At last they took off the horses of the barouche & 200 or 300 men dragged us all the way home. Val & Ly Abercorn came home quietly on foot – wh was considered more prudent & constitutional. Goodbye – I must finish –
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
They say that Val has been elected entirely on his own personal merits, & manners as a Gentleman – & Mr Ferrand, <8> tho’ apparently so popular, from his eloquence & very taking way of speaking, is rejected for being the opposite.
Notes:
1. Winter Villa, near Plymouth: estate of the Earls of Mt Edgcumbe.
2. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
3. Sir Robert Porrett Collier, 1st Baron Monkswell (1817–1886), Liberal MP for Plymouth, 1852–1871.
4. James White (1809–1883), a Reformer, sat for Plymouth, 1857–1859.
5. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.
6. Louisa Hamilton, née Russell, Lady Abercorn (1812–1905).
7. Louisa Jane Hamilton (1836–1912), and her sister Lady Katherine Elizabeth Edgcumbe, née Hamilton (1840–1874); married, 26 October 1858, to William Henry Edgcumbe.
8. William Ferrand (1808–1889), Conservative MP.