Cotehele House <1>
Calstock
Tavistock.
Saturday August 20th 1864
My dear Henry
I was very glad to get your two letters, & to find that you were so much better of that very disagreable [sic] ague. Your second letter came this morning.
We shall be delighted to see you wherever we are, & for as long as you can stay. It is most likely we shall return here on Saturday next, or Monday the 29th but if we happen to be still at Mount E. <2> you must come there. Val <3> will not be there, as I believe he intends returning to T. Wells <4> next Tuesday or Wednesday – leaving us to go to the Regatta Ball on Thursday – So I cannot be sure whether we shall stay there a few days longer or not – probably not, I think – but if you will only tell me how to direct to you, I will let you know, & keep you au courant. <5>
Pray bring your Camera, if it is not too much trouble. We can easily find a “dark corner”. Be sure & tell me where a letter will find you – as the cross Posts are always 2 days. Say also by what train you will come. If your train brings you to Tavistock, you can get a fly & Post Horses at the Hotel (I forget the name but no doubt it is the “Bedford Arms)” [sic] – & drive 7 miles to Cotehele – not a long distance – but a very hilly stage – truly Cornish. I must make haste for the Post –
Yr affte sister
Caroline
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
2. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
3. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
4. Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
5. Up to date.