21 Chesham Place S. W.
Monday 28th May 1866
My dear Henry
My cold is almost gone, many thanks – but I do not feel very strong yet, nor half as well as I did at Cannes. I do not see how anyone could feel well with the dreadful weather we have had the last fortnight – such gales from the Eastward – Enough to blow everything away if one opened but an inch of window – & yet one was suffocated keeping them all shut.
I am delighted to hear you are coming up to see the Flower show – I wished you had been here last week, when it was all in it’s first beauty & freshness. I went there rather early on the 2nd day – (being moved to give 10s/–) & was enchanted with the beauty of the coup-d’œil, as well as of that of the individual plants. However Brighton, the Mt Edgcumbe <1> gardener, tells me today that the flowers are still improving in appearance – it is so well managed & ventilated – besides running water which cools the air in the tent. I only wish he had brought up with him a handful of Citrous & Bougainvillea – they must have had a prize, for there is nothing of that kind to be seen there. It is a pity you only purpose staying a few hours. If you like to come here, I can offer you Charlie’s <2> bed & room on the ground floor, for Wednesday & Thursday – as he will be at Windsor & Ascot. It will be very nice to have you, & Chesham Place is a very short distance from the Flower show. My love to Ela –
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
Notes:
1. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
2. Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.