Cotehele <1>
Calstock
Tavistock
Decr 24th 1861
My dear Henry
Who could have foreseen, at the time you wrote to me last, the dreadful misfortune, <2> that was impending over the poor Queen <3> & her family!
How little did she herself imagine in how short a time the same sorrow would befall her, when she wrote me that touching & beautiful letter! There is but one universal feeling of pity & sympathy for her all over the Country – & also of sorrow for the Prince – for he will be a great public loss.
I wrote directly to Lady Augusta Bruce, <4> as soon as the news arrived – for I felt very anxious about the Queen – not knowing how she would bear such a shock – & she wrote me a few lines saying how wonderfully composed she was, after the first burst of grief – & how gentle & patient she was.
Today I heard that the Dean of Windsor, who was sent for shortly before the Prince’s death, said the had never scene he witnessed was quite heartbreaking. The Queen was sitting on the floor in an agony of grief, & all her children round her trying to comfort her. After it was all over she sent the Prince of Wales to Ld Palmerston <5> to say she knew she had a life of duty before her, & she intended to fulfil that duty to the utmost of her ability, but that she considered her worldly career as at an end. It is really too sad to think of.
I am so sorry too for the Princess Rl <6> who had been the companion of her father before her marriage, & was so excessively fond of him – & for Prince Alfred <7> who is in the West Indies.
We came here on Saturday Ernestine <8> & I, to spend Christmas quite quietly – & shall probably stay over New Year’s Day.
I am thankful to say that Charlie’s <9> Regt has not been ordered abroad yet – The two that are gone are the 1st Battalion of Grenadier Guards, & the 2nd of Scots Fusiliers – Charlie’s is the 3rd Battn Grenadier Gds. We have had a second very amusing letter from him, dated [Tuéret?], Province d’Oran – Amongst other things, he mentions a wood on the side of a mountain of the most magnificent Cedars of Lebanon of an enormous size. He went out hunting wild Boars in a thick wood of Arbutus & Myrtle, & they went on as far as the foot of Mount Atlas – I enclose you his first letter, as I think you may like to see it, & Amandier <10> too, Please return it when done with.
The Vals <11> are still at Baron’s Court.
I hope you are all as flourishing as you say Matilda & her Baby <12> are? Give my love to all, & best wishes for a happy Christmas & New Year –
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
You heard I suppose, that little Prince Leopold <14> was spending the Winter at
Finished Decr 25th
Notes:
1. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
2. The death of Albert Saxe-Coburg (1819–1861), consort to Queen Victoria. He died on 14 December.
3. Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom (1837–1901), Empress of India (1876–1901).
4. She was lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria.
5. Albert Edward (1841–1910), acceeded as King Edward VII, 1901. Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784–1865), statesman.
6. Victoria Adelaide Mary, Princess Royal (1840–1901).
7. Alfred Ernest Albert (1844–1900), Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha; second son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
8. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.
9. Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.
10. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
11. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’ and Lady Katherine Elizabeth Edgcumbe, née Hamilton (1840–1874), wife of William Henry Edgcumbe.
12. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter and John Henry Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Jack’ (1861–1902), WHFT’s grandson.
13. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife, Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter, Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter, Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter, and Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
14. George Duncan Albert Leopold (1853–1884), Duke of Albany and youngest son of Queen Victoria. His health was of concern as he had haemophilia.
15. Sir Edward Bowater (1787–1861), lieutenant-general and his wife Lady Mary Bowater.