Mount Edgcumbe <1>
Feby 10th 1861
My dear Henry
I had a letter this morning from Christiana Nicholl, <2> which contained news which I know will grieve you much, if you have not already heard it. The death of dear Mary Talbot, <3> which happened in London, the day before yesterday, I quote C’s letter.
“Dear Aunt Mary came up with to London with Aunt Charlotte <4> on Monday, suffering at the time from an inflamed foot. After the journey it turned to erysipelas which could not be arrested & she died yesterday after an illness of only four days – Her end on earth was quite calm & peaceful.”
Poor Jane <5> will feel her loss very much – as indeed they all will – & none more so, I should think, than Kit’s <6> children, to whom she had been like a Mother almost, for so long. I am very sorry – She was always so kind to me, & my very earliest recollections are associated with her & Penrice <7> – She it was who carried me up stairs when I broke my arm at Penrice, when only 3 year’s old – an event I perfectly remember.
Please thank Matilda & Amandier <8> for their last letters, when you write. I go to London now in a very few days – to Farrance’s <9> Milord <10> has been suffering a good deal lately from pain in the face – but is a little better. Many thanks for the small Photographs of Garibaldi & Mr Bowlby. <11> Mr Loch, who was a prisoner with the Consul Parkes, <12> has been to see Milord, who was delighted with him –
Ever dear Henry Yrs affly
Caroline
Notes:
1. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
2. Christiana Judy Nicholl, of Merthyr Mawr.
3. Mary Thereza Talbot (1795–1861), WHFT’s cousin.
4. Charlotte Louisa 'Charry' Traherne, née Talbot (1800–1880), WHFT’s cousin.
5. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).
6. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803–1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician; WHFT’s Welsh cousin.
7. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot
8. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter, Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal ].
9. Farrance’s Hotel, Belgrave Street, London.
10. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
11. Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807–1882), Italian patriot. Thomas William Bowlby (1817–1860), Times correspondent; captured at Tang-chow, China, by Tartar general San-ko-lin-sin and died from the effects of ill-treatment.
12. Henry Brougham Loch (1827–1900), 1st Baron Loch of Drylaw. In 1860, he was private secretary to Lord Elgin (1811–1863), conducting negotiations which led to the surrender of the Taku forts, China. This was done in conjunction with Sir Harry Smith Parkes (1828–1885), diplomatist. Their party was ‘treacherously’ seized soon after by Chinese officials and imprisoned in harsh conditions. Henry Brougham Loch and Harry Smith Parkes were two of only a few surviving prisoners that were released several weeks later.