The Winter Villa <1>
Stonehouse – Plymouth
May 5th 1860
My dear Henry
I cannot resist sending you a flower which is in beautiful blossom just now in the Conservatory, & which is a special favourite of mine. Of course you know it – though no one ever does who chances to come here – & I never saw it elsewhere. We call it the Bignonia Capensis. Is that right?
It is very naughty of you never coming to see us & make an inspection of the Conservatory. Amongst other curiosities we have some tame robins. A pair came in of their own accord last year, built a nest & reared a young family. In the course of the Summer they all dispersed – but the old Pater familias returned this winter, & remained some time alone, but as tame as ever. We thought it a pity he should have no companion – & we introduced to him two in succession; but he drove them both away – & at last brought home a little wife of his own chusing.
They have now built another nest, & brought out into the big world of the Conservatory, two young ones who are learning to fly. It is very pretty to watch them.
We had a visit last week from Mr & Lady Catharine Long <2> – she was a Walpole, Sister of the late Lord Orford, <3> & an old friend of Milord’s <4> – but they had actually not met for 37 years! – & during her visit to us, the Forte put in, to take Sir George Grey <5> off as Governor to the Cape. He also was a particular friend of her’s – & he came to see her & say farewell – But they had not seen each other for 30 Years! Was it not curious? Then also Mr Long told me he knew you very well at Harrow – but that must be 40 years ago I suppose. He is remarkably pleasant – & has a great taste for drawing, antiquities, the beauties of nature &c – in short he seems full of resources. I gave him your Assyrian inscriptions to read, with which he was much interested – & he begged me, when I wrote, to remember him very particularly to you – & to say that he always followed all your discoveries with great interest.
The Gardener has just gathered the Bignonia – but it is too large for a letter, so I shall send it in a small box – Also a beautiful pink thing –a sort of Passion flower, which grows in great abundance, I am told, in Madeira.
I believe we go to London abt the middle of May – to Farrances’ <6> – but it must depend on Ld Mt E’s health, & he has been very unwell lately – & is still so today. I wish you wd just come down & pay us a little visit en attendant – Do dear Henry – it is nothing for you –that distance
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Winter Villa, near Plymouth: estate of the Earls of Mt Edgcumbe.
2. Lady Catherine Long, née Walpole (1797–1867).
3. Horatio Walpole, 3rd Lord Orford (1783–1858).
4. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
5. Sir George Grey (1812–1898), colonial governor.
6. Farrance’s Hotel, Belgrave Street, London.