Hotel Bellevue Cannes
Sunday April 29^th 1866

My dear Henry

I have been a long time answering your letter from Paris – but the fact is that I felt so cross at the way you cheated us, after promising to come back, that I was in no mood for writing any thing pleasant. Now that my indignation has had a little time to subside, I will tell you that Cannes is perfectly charming at this moment. Till this morning, (when it has been raining, but is again fine,) we have had very fine weather – & many have made several expeditions & pic-nics. On Friday they all went to the Saut du Loup – ab^t 18 miles off – beyond Grasse – It was beautiful – but as this excursion involved starting at ½ p. 8 – & a great deal of walking & rough riding on mules up a narrow gorge, I did not join it. – Most of the ladies were a good deal knocked up – not Ernestine ^<1> however – who is light & strong. The gentlemen were to sleep at Le Bar, a small town in the hills, & return only yesterday evening. As I was left behind I took a boat – & enjoyed myself extremely sketching among the old cloisters of the Isle S^t Honorat.

I am glad you enjoyed your visit to Nice & the Alps. It must have brought back many old Souvenirs of past happy days. We are now seriously turning our thoughts towards home – tho’ I can’t say how sorry I am to leave the South. Ernestine & I went one day to Nice, & slept there, returning here the next day. Like you, we started off directly to Ville Franca – thence by boat round the light house Point to S^t Hospice – lovely! Thence by another boat across the little bay to a landing where there was a flight of rough steps & a low wall, over which hung luxuriant Geraniums – with such a blaze of scarlet flowers, that one’s eyes were quite dazzled. From thence we visited the famous Olive tree – 48 f^t round the base – & 25 f^t above the ground. We recrossed the bay of Villefrance by moonlight – & reached Nice at 8 o’clock.

Post going good bye. Write to Paris Hotel Westminster Rue de la Vaix or London – 21 Chesham Place S. W.

I believe we start on Wednesday

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Notes:

1. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.