Farrance's Hotel <1>
Monday May 6th 1861
My dear Henry
I ought to have answered your letter before now, to tell you how sorry I was about the fire <2> at Laycock - It was not however want of sympathy, but want of time which prevented me writing sooner. No great harm appears to have been done, & most mercifully the fire did not break out at night. Fortunately too it was not near any of the old, original buildings of the dear old Abbey - tho' none of it can be called very modern. -
I hope everything has been restored to your satisfaction & proper preventions taken for the future.
I know not if you are still at Laycock - but I had hoped to see you before this. What are you doing? & where are you?
There were two brilliant weddings solemnised last Tuesday in St Paul's Knightsbridge. The eldest & youngest daughters of Lady Elizth Bulteel <3> - (the 2nd was married last year, to Bingham Mildmay, <4> son of our old friend Humphrey. <5>)
Mary Bulteel, <6> the Maid of Honor, married Col Ponsonby, <7> Equerry to Prince Albert, <8> & Son of the celebrated Sir Fred. Ponsonby <9> who was left for dead on the field of Waterloo, & afterwards recovered so wonderfully.
Emily <10> married Edward Baring <11> in the same firm as Mr Mildmay', so they are well off, as you may imagine. They had each 8 Bridesmaids - & Ernestine <12> was one of Emily's. - Two days afterwards Ernestine was confirmed at Langham Place Church, All Souls', the same Church you were married in. You cannot think how dear & innocent she looked, all in white, with a long white veil on her head!
Milord <13> is tolerably well - Do come & see us -
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
Notes:
1. Belgrave Street, London.
2. See Doc. No: 08375.
3. Lady Elizabeth Bulteel, née Grey (d. 1880).
4. Henry Bingham Mildmay (1828-1905). He had married Georgiana Frances Bulteel in July 1860.
5. Humphrey St. John-Mildmay (1794-1853).
6. Mary Elizabeth Bulteil (1832-1916).
7. Sir Henry Frederick Ponsonby (1825-1895), major-general; was appointed private secretary to Queen Victoria, 1870.
8. Albert Saxe-Coburg (1819-1861), consort to Queen Victoria.
9. Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby (1783-1837), major-general.
10. Louisa Emily Charlotte Bulteel (d. 1892).
11. Edward Charles Baring, 1st Baron Revelstoke (1828-1897).
12. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT's niece.
13. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797-1861), WHFT's brother-in-law.