Cotehele House <1>
Calstock
Tavistock
Sunday evening Octr 25th 1863
My dear Henry
I have been so busy lately, that really I have not found a minute to write – so to ensure this being in time for tomorrow’s Post, I begin it overnight!
First of all I must thank you for what you have done about the South Seas <2> affair – I sent your enclosure to Mr Boger <3> – but he must mistook the matter grievously – for he thought I was entitled to a large sum, which has dwindled down to £22!
I found that I could not be spared from this time for the whole winter, on account of the other Waitings – So I asked the Queen <4> to let me have one before I went. This caused much delay in settling my plans – But I am now to take the Duchess of Athole’s <5> Waiting, from the 24th Novr to 22nd Decr – so that I shall scarcely get away before Christmas – But then I need not hurry back so soon. My object is still Rome – & I want to ask if you think I cd save the expence of a Courier, by taking my Butler, who is a capital little man – very quick, attentive & handy. He has been at Paris, Rome & Naples & in Germany – & could talk the languages a little – but that is 7 years ago – & he is too diffident to say he could do as well as a Courier – Still I must keep him, wherever he is. I might perhaps take him as a second, & have a courier too – as I shall not take my footman William (whom you may remember at Millburn). <6> Please tell me your ideas. I have, besides, addresses of two other Couriers – one of them went abroad last year – with the Villier’s Sisters–<7> [sic] (She was Fanny Coryton, Lady Morley’s <8> daughter) – & he says he is the best Courier in the World.
The Vals went to London last Monday, & sailed on Thursday. They had a most prosperous voyage – beautiful calm weather & quite warm. Val wrote the same day from Boulogne – Next day they were to go on to Paris for 2 or 3 days – & then to the Villa Anna at Cannes. Ask Amandier <9> which department Cannes is in? It used, I think, to be in the Var – but now I fancy it is the Alpes Maritimes; but she will know.
Monday morning
I thought, if I took my butler abroad, I might perhaps engage a Courier only for the journey?
Don’t you think the Times <10>’ critique on Miss Yonge’s <11> “Christian names”, rather disagreable [sic] & unfair? He seems to find fault with her for not mentioning every name that ever was invented. Now she only professes to give the origin of Christian names. He complains, amongst others, that Euripides is not mentioned!
We spent ten days very pleasantly at Mount E. <12> just before they went.
Val <13> gave a dinner to the tenants, in return for the one they gave him last year in St George’s Hall Stonehouse. This one was in the Orangerie the day before the trees were housed for the Winter – only 3 large ones filled up one end – & made a beautiful background. At the other end was a trophy, composed of a plough & all sorts of agricultural implements – (I don’t mean nasty steam things,) but primitive rakes, spades &c) & a sheaf of corn tied with blue ribbon. At the other end was a sort of star made of wheat-ears & sickles, enlivened with bouquets of poppies, bleuets, & oxlip daisies – You can’t think how pretty it was. Val devised everything, & indeed made a great deal of it himself, helped by some friends, who were staying with him – Katie & the Edgcumbes & Ernestine, made the flowers of paper – very cleverly indeed. The windows were drapés with large Ships flags – & the opposite side was ornamented with groups of flags, festoons of laurel & buck’s heads. The speeches went off particularly well – without a hitch or hesitation on any side – Val speaks particularly well, fortunately – In calling attention to the trophy of corn, he mentioned that of course poppies and daisies were not emblematic of good farming –but those decorations were kindly contributed by the ladies, who of course knew nothing about farming. This was a decided hit, & much applauded.
The marine band & singers also enlivened the scene. Poor Charlie <14> was not present. He was detained by duty at Aldershott [sic], & only arrived late that night. We have had him since here, for a few days – but he has been obliged to go off again for an Inspection –
The foundations of my Hothouse have just been dug – & I am almost afraid it is too large – but that is a good fault – It is 60 ft long – but I mean it principally for grapes – & only a certain quantity of flowers. But I shall divide it into 3 unequal portions – so as to heat them to different degrees. Have you any thoughts of going abroad still? or of coming to see us here? Please tell me soon – there is barely a month to my Waiting – & I might have to move somewhere in the mean time.
How are you all at Millburn? Give them all my best love & tell Amandier I am conscious I have been silent for a long time – but I hope to write before very long. There is so much doing & still to be done here – & I find that things get on quicker when I actually inspect myself. Do you remember the terrace garden? It would be much improved by a road on one side of it being taken in & added to the garden. Please come & see; only it is too far. I am trying to let my house in Charles St for the winter – You don’t want one?
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
Notes:
1. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
2. See Doc. No: 08744.
3. Deeble Boger, attorney.
4. Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom (1837–1901), Empress of India (1876–1901).
5. Possibly Anna Murray, Duchess of Athole.
6. Millburn Tower, Gogar, just west of Edinburgh; the Talbot family made it their northern home from June 1861 to November 1863. It is particularly important because WHFT conducted many of his photoglyphic engraving experiments there. The house had a rich history. Built for Sir Robert Liston (1742-1836), an 1805 design by Benjamin Latrobe for a round building was contemplated but in 1806 a small house was built to the design of William Atkinson (1773-1839), best known for Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford. The distinctive Gothic exterior was raised in 1815 and an additional extension built in 1821. Liston had been ambassador to the United States and maintained a warm Anglo-American relationship in the years 1796-1800. His wife, the botanist Henrietta Liston, née Marchant (1751-1828) designed a lavish American garden, sadly largely gone by the time the Talbots rented the house .
7. The two sisters of Victor Albert George Child-Villiers, 7th Earl of Island of Jersey (1845-1915): Lady Julia Sarah Alice Child-Villiers (d. 1921), wife Sir George Orby Wombwell, 4th Bt; and Lady Caroline Anne Child-Villiers.
8. Fanny Coryton, and her mother Harriet Sophia, Dowager Countess of Morley, of Whiteway, Devon.
9. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
10. The Times (London).
11. Charlotte Mary Yonge, History of Christian names (London: Parker, Son, and Bourn, 1863).
12. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
13. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
14. Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.