Mount Edgcumbe <1>
Saturday Novr 7th 1863
My dear Henry
I ought to have sent you the enclosed long ago – but I was very busy, & thought a short delay would not signify. It seemed nonsense to invest such a small sum as £22 – so this is to enable it to be placed to my credit with Stilwell. <2>
We went to Port Eliot on Tuesday last – a drive of about 10 miles – & staid till yesterday, when we drove here – by land, & are going to stay a very few days; just to look out a certain number of things, pack up &c. Then we return to Cotehele <3> & leave it again about the 22nd I suppose – & stay a day at Thanckes near Torpoint, George Edgcumbe’s <4> residence. They are going to take charge of Ernestine <5> during a part of my Waiting, & then she goes to Lady Brownlow & Ly Abercorn. <6> My Waiting will be over on the 22nd Decr & then I hope to turn Southwards.
The Vals <7> arrived at Cannes last Friday week – the journey was most prosperous – but they did not like their house, nor the situation – & Val said he should leave no stone unturned to find another. He did look at 2 others, worse a good deal – & I fear Katie tired herself looking at them – which is the worst thing in the world for her. They were close to the sea – & the eternal beat of the sea on the shore, & always at high water, was most aggravating. Close behind was the railway – no trees or shrubs, & staring white walls, with new houses in course of erection. The air was very warm, but irritating – & made them feel dried-up & feverish. In short I think Dr Williams could not have ordered them to a worse place. He gave them only the choice of Cannes or Mentone – & I think most likely they will go on to the latter. I wrote to Amandier <8> a few days ago. My love to her Constance & the girls. <9>
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
Notes:
1. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
2. Of Stilwell & Company.
3. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
4. George Edgcumbe (1800–1882).
5. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.
6. Lady Brownlow, wife John Cust (1779–1853), 1st Earl Brownlow, and Louisa Hamilton, née Russell, Lady Abercorn (1812–1905).
7. 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.
8. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
9. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife and Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter, Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter and Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.