Cotehele House <1>
Calstock
Tavistock.
Monday 20th May 1872
My dear Henry
It is such ages since I have heard from you or your’s [sic], that I must write & try & elicit some signe de vie. <2> I must however say first of all, that a letter came by today’s Post for Ernestine <3> – Postmark Bath, & apparently from Rosamond <4> – but that does not prevent my wishing to have a letter from yourself, after such a long silence.
Ernestine has been away a long time.
Perhaps you never heard that poor Val <5> had a severe attack of Rheumatism at Bournemouth. The pain came first in his hip – & then shifted about to other limbs – rendering him quite helpless for a time, & his hands & shoulders so stiff, he could not turn in bed.
The doctors said he had the narrowest possible escape of Rheumatic fever – but it was not that most fortunately. The complaint attacked the muscles instead of the joints, which makes a great difference – & he is now, I am thankful to say all right again. No doubt his patience & good temper enabled him to get thro’ the illness better than he otherwise would have done. Katie, <6> who had passed a very good winter for her, happened just at that time, to have caught cold, & to be particularly weak & out of sorts – so Ernestine went to Bournemouth, to help them, & amuse Val & write for him. This was on the 17th of April – So you see I have been a long time in solitude.
On the 10th inst Ernestine went to spend a week with Lady Morley <7> in London – She very goodnaturedly asked her to go to them for a week – but as other people were coming, she could not keep her longer. I am glad however she has had a peep of London as we don’t intend going there this year. I find I cannot afford to take a house – It runs away with too much money. E. has made the best of her time – been to one Ball, one Opera, one French Play, excellent – Rabagas – & one party – & seen the Rl Academy, International, &c &c –
(By-the-bye, the K. of the Belgians <8> does not let the grass grow under his feet – What quantities of things he does, & lots of people he sees!) Ernestine left London yesterday & came to Stone Hall – ( George Edgcumbe’s <9> house) in Stonehouse. I expect her home tomorrow – Did you ever see such weather – Yesterday & today are quite as cold as winter.
I want to know if the small blue flower I enclose, is rare in England? It grows wild here. I have often seen it of old in Italy. I enclose also a specimen leaf of our ivy. Is it not gigantic? Everything green has grown in these proportions – owing to the wet weather – but alas! for the flowers – they cannot get on without sun – at least here. At Mt E. <10> there is an abundance, & every Saturday I receive a hamper of lovely things.
I hope you are all flourishing in spite of the cold.
Give my love to Constance & tuttè quanté <11>
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
4 Circus
Bath
Notes:
1. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
2. Sign of life.
3. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.
4. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.
5. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
6. Lady Katherine Elizabeth Edgcumbe, née Hamilton (1840–1874), wife of William Henry Edgcumbe.
7. Harriet Sophia, Dowager Countess of Morley, of Whiteway, Devon.
8. Leopold II, King of the Belgians (1835–1909).
9. George Edgcumbe (1800–1882).
10. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
11. She means everyone.