Farrance’s Hotel <1>
August 14th 1860
My dear Henry
I am so much obliged to you for writing to me so regularly – & I am so very happy to hear that dear Matilda <2> is out of danger, & going on so well & satisfactorily. Amandier <3> has been very good in writing too – & her letter of Yesterday, gives me this very much improved account. She says they were to leave Speddoch <4> tomorrow – but for fear any thing has prevented their departure I shall address my letter of today still there – trusting to you to tell her, if she is returned to Oakfield, that there is a letter on it’s way to her. –
How very fortunate that Constance <5> has been able to nurse Matilda without harm to herself – hitherto – but it must have been very trying to her.
We are still here – so you may write again please. Lady B. is better but very weak, & still in bed. She seemed so pleased that I should stay a few days longer. Milord <6> left home by evening train to Totnes on Saturday. The Steam Yacht was to start Sunday at daylight & meet him at Dartmouth – but I have heard no more since Totnes. We have not yet managed to visit Kew. How beautiful Oakfield must be!
Yrs affly
Caroline
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Oakfield
Keswick
Cumberland
Notes:
1. Belgrave Street, London.
2. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
3. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
4. Speddoch, Dumfriesshire, 10 mi NW of Dumfries: home of WHFT’s daughter Matilda.
5. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
6. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.