Friday July 24th 1863
My dear Henry
I received your letter directed here the other day. I had already proposed myself to Uncle Wm <1> & received a short note saying he should be glad to see us, & that probably you were coming also – & that another letter of his had crossed mine on the road. This was a long one – which accounted for the brevity of the other. I proposed going on or about the 6th & still keep to that notion. Uncle Wm says they intend being in Town for a week from next Monday, & hope to see us – You might also come up then, as you have not been in London for ages!
I am so glad you are paying Matilda <2> a visit. It will make her so happy.
The Pss of Leiningen, <3> who has been staying here 6 weeks in expectation of the event, had a little girl this morning at 3 o’clock. She was very ill poor thing, & suffered most patiently for many hours – but fortunately she had the best attendance, & is going on quite well now. The Queen <4> was with her all the time, comforting her & her husband. <5> He is the Queen’s nephew, & commands the Rl Yacht. They are both such particularly nice people – I am quite fond of them. They once paid us a visit of 2 or 3 days at the Winter Villa. <6> Ernestine <7> is at Offington <8> with Val & Katie <9> – but they go back to Town tomorrow – & I return there on Tuesday next.
There is a Cricket match going on in the grounds between the Household & the Yacht – the latter getting the best of the game – my love to all –
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
[envelope - rear flap blindstamped 'Osborne House' :]
W. Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Millburn Tower
Edinburgh
N.B.
Notes:
1. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat; WHFT's favourite uncle.
2. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
3. Princess Marie of Baden (1834–1899).
4. Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom (1837–1901), Empress of India (1876–1901).
5. Ernst of Leiningen, 4th Prince of Leiningen (1830–1904).
6. Winter Villa, near Plymouth: estate of the Earls of Mt Edgcumbe.
7. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (16 Aug 1843-1925), WHFT's niece.
8. Seat of Capt Thomas Gaisford (1816–1898), JP, WHFT’s brother-in-law, near Worthing, Sussex.
9. 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.