Cotehele House <1>
Friday May 24th 1872
My dear Henry
I wrote to you at Bath last Monday, but I am glad to hear now that you are at the dear old Abbey. I sent you a specimen of an Ivy leaf, for your admiration – & a small blue flower – & now enclose two wild specimens wh Ernestine & Bessie <2> fancy are very rare. I cannot decide the question – so I send them to you for an answer.
Ernestine came home on Monday – & yesterday George Edgcumbe <3> & Bessie came. He has been very ill this winter, & has not left home for a long time – so it will be a little change, tho’ he is quite well now. Ernestine begs you will thank Rosamond <4> for her letter; which she will answer soon.
Val <5> is quite well now, tho’ not very strong yet, I suppose. He & Katie <6> are at Bowood, till next Tuesday, when they are coming to Mt Edgcumbe. <7> I wish you could all meet.
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
Notes:
1. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
2. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece and Elizabeth Katherine Edgcumbe, daughter of George Edgcumbe.
3. George Edcgumbe (1800–1882).
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. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.