Cotehele House <1>
Calstock
Tavistock
Septr 5th 1870
My dear Henry
I have been longing to hear of Rosamond & Amandier’s <2> safe return to their Harbour of Refuge in the dear old Abbey – & beg you will write & tell me all about them & how they are.
How glad I am they have got well out of France! I am also very glad to see that poor old M. de Flahault <3> has not lived to see the growing miseries & disturbances at Paris – Georgine de Flahault <4> will be able to come to England, which will be a great relief to Emily Lansdowne. <5>
What astounding events are taking place! What does Amandier think of them? I cannot help feeling sorry for the Emperor <6> – & where can the Empress be & the Prince Imperial? <7> The K. of Prussia <8> has taken good care to give the Emperor a “Residence” well in the heart of Germany. – I was in hopes the surrender of the Emperor might have stopped the fighting – but at Paris they appear bent on continuing the war to the last.
Please write directly –
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
Notes:
1. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
2. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter and Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal ].
3. Count de Flahault, father of Emily Jane Mercer Elphinstone de Flahault, 2nd wife of Lord Shelburne and 4th Marquess of Lansdowne.
4. Possibly a sister of Emily Jane Mercer Elphinstone de Flahault.
5. Emily Jane Mercer Elphinstone Fitzmaurice, née de Flahault, Lady Lansdowne.
6. Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (1808–1873), President of the Second Republic of France (1850–1852), and Emperor of the French (1852–1870). He had just been captured by the Prussians at the Battle of Sedan on 2nd September 1870.
7. Eugenie (1826–1920), Empress of France (1853–1871), and her son Napoleon Eugene Louis John Joseph, Prince Imperial (1856–1879).
8. Wilhelm I (1797–1888), King of Prussia (1861–1888).