Mount Edgcumbe <1>
Devonport.
Saturday March 12th 1870
My dear Henry
Ernestine <2> had a nice letter from Ela <3> lately – which informed us you were at the old Abbey – I am so glad to hear that Constance <4> has passed a tolerable winter, & that Charles <5> is so much better & stronger for his séjour <6> near the sea. I feel convinced that is the thing for his ailments – & most likely to be very beneficial to Constance also. –
I want to know what you think of the Moabite Stone – & if it is really as interesting as people say – also what date you think it is, & if the language is nearly the same as Hebrew?
I should be so much obliged if you could send me, for Cotehele, <7> any little plants of the Anemone Apennina that you can spare. Would the end of next week be too late? If it wd be better earlier, you could send them here, & I cd pot them & take them up when I go – directed to me at the
Manor Office
Stonehouse
Plymouth
immediate or perishable.
I am dying to have some out of doors.
We came here last Tuesday week – to meet Val, <8> who was able to leave Bournemouth – as Katie <9> has been so much better lately & the Dss of A. <10> was with her. We enjoy having him so much – & are helping him with many things both in & out of the house. Yesterday we were making a Fernery – or rather altering & putting to rights what the Gardener had already made – in a singularly cocknified taste – I mean as to the rock work – So now Val has made it look all like natural rocks jutting out of the ground – The plants have not been disturbed, & I expect, in the summer, it will be charming – There is besides, in the midst, a rough stone arch, with [illegible deletion] the head of a river god, which was laying [sic] about somewhere, & which serves as a fountain.
I wish you would tell me where to direct to Amandier, as I want to write to her. How very odd of them going from Sienna to Rome, viâ Pisa! Now please don’t forget my Anemones – & believe me
Yr affte sister
Caroline
I am sure the Anemones will move well, as the season is so backward. They had better come here, if you can send them directly – otherwise they must be directed to
Cotehele House
Plymouth
to be forwarded from North Corner by Princess Steamer
but they only run Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays –
Notes:
1. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
2. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.
3. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
4. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
5. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
6. Stay.
7. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
8. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
9. Lady Katherine Elizabeth Edgcumbe, née Hamilton (1840–1874), wife of William Henry Edgcumbe.
10. Louisa Jane Hamilton, née Russell, Duchess of Abercorn (1812–1902).