Mount Edgcumbe <1>
Devonport.
10th Feby – 1877
My dear Henry
Many thanks for your letter from Lacock Abbey. I must answer it today, in order to wish you many happy returns of your Birthday tomorrow, which I do with all my heart. You must have been very glad to get home again to the dear old place, & the Assyrians though I dare say you carried off some of them with you to Bournemouth. I hope Dr Schiemann <2> will soon publish the account of his discoveries at Mycænæ [sic]. I have read all the accounts that appeared in the Times, <3> the most extraordinary & interesting I ever read. I hope people will no longer disbelieve Homer after such wonderful proofs that his heroes really existed at such a remote period!
I wish some inscriptions had been found with the bones & treasures.
Ernestine <4> heard from Rosamond <5> a day or two ago, that Matilda <6> had had the measles as well as the children – but very lightly, & was getting well. It is a good thing over. We were going back to Cotehele <7> today – having been here since Christmas – but I have got such a bad cold I must stay a little longer.
All the flowers are coming out – too soon I fear.
The Narcissus have been in full bloom the last 10 days – now the Crocus[e]s & various other things are coming out – even Fuchsias, Camellias, & the beautiful large flowering Laurustinus, in profusion.
A number of Charlie’ <8>s Australian plants are flourishing, & have grown quite into shrubs.
That mauve Abutilon & the Benthamia keep their leaves all the winter – & the latter has had ripe fruit this year – but the birds eat it.
I hope the warming apparatus answers – Give my love to Constance & Ela <9> –
Ever yr affte Sister
Caroline
Notes:
1. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
2. She means Heinrich Schliemann (1822–1890), excavator of Mycenae in 1876. [See Doc. No: 01414].
3. The Times (London).
4. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (16 Aug 1843-1925), WHFT's niece.
5. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.
6. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
7. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
8. Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.
9. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife and Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.