Mount Edgcumbe <1>
August 26th Friday – 1864
My dear Henry
I am very glad to hear you are coming. We shall stay here till Tuesday, & by a curious coincidence, I intend going to Exeter tomorrow with a return ticket, to look for some old carving for Cotehele. <2> – I must go either by Express, or by the 12 o’clock train, & mean to make my pied-à-terre <3> at the old Hotel in the Cathedral Yard. I am almost sure it exists still, & is called the Clarence – but so come there to enquire for me If, (which is improbable) this Hotel no longer exists, then please enquire at the New London Inn, in the main Street, where we always go, when we stop there. My reason for now chusing the other is that it is in the Cathedral Yard, close to the old Shop I want to visit. You had much better not go to Exmouth – I dare say it is a stupid place with nothing to see – but come on with me to Mt E. If however by some untoward chance, I dare something should prevent my going to Exeter, & you hear nothing of me at either Hotel, then please come on here at once. But I fully intend going.
Charles (your Charles) <4> is here – He was at the Plymth Ball last night & returned here with us afterwards.
I hope you will soon get stronger. We return to Cotehele on Tuesday – as at present advised.
Yrs very affectionately
Caroline Mt Edgcumbe
I must go by Express – 10·40, & return by 4·25 – So you can visit Lucombe & Veitch <5> first.Notes:
1. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
2. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
3. Lodging.
4. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
5. Probably Robert Veitch, son of James Veitch, jnr (1815–1869), nurseryman & botanist.