61 Eaton Square
S.W.
Tuesday July 18th 1871
My dear Henry
The time is fast approaching for our migration Westward – & I want to know if you & Constance <1> would like us to pay you a little visit on our way?
I must explain how matters stand.
Ernestine <2> proposes to leave London before me as I have various matters to attend to which do not require her presence, & she is impatient to leave this hot, stuffy city – in which there will no longer be any society after this week. Goodwood races are rather earlier than usual this year – & they are the signal for the instant dispersion of the London world. –
Ernestine therefore wishes to make a start next Monday the 24th & would be very pleased to go & see you all at Lacock Abbey, if you could & would receive her on that day for a couple of days – Should you like her to do this? After that she is engaged to pay the Vals <3> a visit on Dartmoor, where they have taken a house for the hot weather – just when Mount E. <4> becomes too relaxing for Katie. <5> I am happy to say however, that she has been unusually well there this year.
My plan is to remain on in London about another week – & then if you will have me, I shall be delighted to come to the dear old Abbey for a few days. Only please let me know, as soon as possible, first, whether it will be convenient & agreable to have Ernestine on Monday; you can consider abt me afterwards. She has not seen you all together for ages –!
E. & I have attended the debate in the He of Lords, all 3 nights – & last night we remained till ¼ to two, & saw the Division. It was very interesting. Val intended to have spoken, & once jumped up to do so – but there were 2 or 3 others near him who equally desired to do so speak – but all gave way naturally to Lord Strathnairn <6> – & afterwards there was no further opportunity – which I was very sorry for – for I am certain tho’ he felt very nervous tho’ he had screwed up his courage to speak. Besides which, he is so seldom seen in public now – & I should like him to have been heard. – When we got home, he read us the heads of his speech – which I thought very good, & containing some new arguments against the Bill – a great merit, when everything that could be said either way, appeared to have been exhausted.
I am delighted the Bill is thrown out.
Ld Salisbury <7> spoke very well – His & the D. of Argyll’s <8> were the best speeches of the evening. Old Ld Russell <9> got up & congratulated the Duke, looking delighted all the while – tho’ he did not agree with him as he voted the other way. Now please answer something by return of Post – & give my love to all.
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
You know Ilchester <10> is to marry Ly. Mary Dawson, Ld Dartrey’s <11> Daughter –? a handsome & charming person.
Notes:
1. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
2. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.
3. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’; and his 1st wife, Lady Katherine Elizabeth, née Hamilton (1840-1874).
4. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
5. Lady Katherine Elizabeth Edgcumbe, née Hamilton (1840–1874), wife of William Henry Edgcumbe.
6. Probably Hugh Henry Rose, Baron Srathnairn (1801–1885), field marshal.
7. Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 9th Earl of Salisbury (1830–1903), politician.
8. Sir George Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll (1823–1900), who succeeded his father in 1847; FRS, Chancellor of the University of St Andrews and Trustee of the British Museum.
9. Lord John Russell, 1st Earl Russell (1792–1878), famous for his part in the passage of the Reform Act 1832. He voted against the Ballot Bill in 1871. This might be the occasion referred to in the letter. The Ballot Act, passed in 1872, introduced the secret ballot for general elections. It was opposed for discouraging openness, and its effect in Ireland was feared–freedom from intimidation did allow the growth of a nationalist party there.
10. Henry Edward Fox Strangways, 5th Earl of Ilchester (b. 1847).
11. Mary Eleanor Anne Dawson and her father Richard Dawson, 1st Earl of Dartrey (1817–1897).