The Winter Villa <1>
Stonehouse
Plymouth
Monday 11th Septr
1876
My dear Henry
I wrote to Constance <2> yesterday, & did not therefore write to thank you for your kind letter <3> of Friday.
It is very sad to think of our dear, affectionate friend <4> being gone – a friend of 56 years! Such a one can never be found again – but it is a great mercy that she passed away in such peace –
I grieve much for you all, as well as for myself – but poor Rosamond <5> is the one who will feel her loss the most. What can be done to comfort her? I wish I could have gone to the funeral but besides the distance being so great, I could not leave Elizabeth at present, & there are other reasons besides. I hope the white flowers from Mount Edgcumbe <6> will be received in time. Val <7> sent 3 wreaths & some white lilies to place on the coffin. They went off this morning, & he telegraphed to the Station Master at Chippenham <8> to send on the box (or hamper) without delay. Please tell Constance that Elizabeth is much better today. My love to them all. I shall think much of them tomorrow – & hope some one will write to me.
Yr affte Sister
Caroline
Notes:
1. Winter Villa, near Plymouth: estate of the Earls of Mt Edgcumbe.
2. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
3. Letter not located.
4. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal ].
5. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.
6. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
7. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
8. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.