Cotehele House <1>
Calstock
Tavistock
Decr 18th 1868
My dear Henry
The report you saw in the papers was quite true, & we have been lately in a state of great anxiety about Katie. <2> A letter came from Val <3> last Monday, saying she had an attack of fever which had reduced her so much, as in her already weak state, to cause great uneasiness. A second letter & a telegram brought a rather worse account – she had a restless night, & only got some sleep with morphine – & what seemed to cause most alarm, was her excessive weakness.
Poor Val seemed quite broken hearted – & he said, what is so natural, that the beautiful blue sky & bright sun made it all so much worse.
After this there seemed to be a favourable turn in her illness – She was able to sleep without morphine, & altogether there was some improvemt. This we learnt by a 2nd telegram – & a third brought a still better report – so that Val said he should send no more telegrams.
A letter received this morning & dated the 15th says that the Dss of Abercorn & her Son Claud <4> were expected the next day – & the Duke <5> was on his way.
Poor Val seems greatly happier & relieved in mind – but evidently he does not build upon any permanent amendment, as to her general condition. It is a very sad case.
I had a nice long letter from Amandier <6> today, & am very glad to find that Constance <7> is still getting stronger. How Amandier does enjoy Venice! I know I should be quite as enthusiastic as she is, were I there – from what I already know of it. There are so many delightful old nooks, (not to speak of it’s [sic] beauties), that must make it only second to Rome in interest.
I am very glad that Charles <8> is beginning to take an interest in travelling – I think he wants that, as he gets too horny.
Ernestine had a charming letter from Charlie, <9> written on board the P. & O. Steamer “Ceylon”, one day short of Alexandria. She is a fine vessell [sic] of 1500 tons – & the passengers being only 60, wh is half her complement, they have plenty of room. He says their voyage was like a delightful cruize in a yacht, only much more comfortable.
They passed by the North coast of Corsica, & skirted the Italian coast; waking up one morning among the Lipari islands – Stromboli smoking vigourously [sic]. They then passed thro’ the Straits of Messina, & under Cape Spartivento – where they took leave of Europe for a time. The weather was splendid, no motion on the sea to speak of, & the views on each side of the straits quite lovely! dotted with little white houses & picturesque villages. It gave me a longing to be there!
I was afraid you had determined to sit by the fire at Lacock during the whole winter – a decidedly slow proceeding – & am glad to find you were going to London – as you would not come here. The weather is charmingly mild, though very wet, & occasionally heavy gales. Amandier talks of the new H. of Commons as “cette masse d’intrus de bas étage”.! <10> Do write to me again –
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Athenaeum Club
Pall Mall
London
S.W.
Notes:
1. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
2. Lady Katherine Elizabeth Edgcumbe, née Hamilton (1840–1874), wife of William Henry Edgcumbe.
3. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
4. Louisa Hamilton, née Russell, Lady Abercorn (1812–1905) and her son Lord Claud John Hamilton (1843–1925).
5. James Hamilton (1811–1885), 1st Duke of Abercorn.
6. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
7. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
8. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
9. Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.
10. This bunch of low grade intruders.