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Document number: 2091
Date: Thu 26 Jul 1877
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: EDGCUMBE Caroline Augusta, née Feilding
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Last updated: 1st September 2003

Mount Edgcumbe <1>
Devonport.

Thursday 26th July
1877

My dear Henry

We came here last Tuesday. It was a lovely Evening, & I drove directly to the top of the Park, to see the Volunteer Camp.

It was a very pretty scene, & looked bright & lively, with the evening Sun shining on the white tents. We looked into Val’s <2> tent, (which he declared was extremely comfortable), & hoped for a fine day yesterday for the Inspection. But alas! after a tolerably fair morning, the rain came on – & by the time we all arrived on the ground, & the Review was going to begin, such torrents of rain fell, & continued without intermission till late at night, that nothing could be done – & the poor men, wet through, had to be dismissed to their tents. The Inspecting Officer was Col Drew, a fine soldierly-looking man. He had been at all the battles in the Crimea, <3> & he knows all the country about Constantinople well, & joined in our surprize at the Turkish want of Energy.

We hear that 3 ships are going out immediately from Portsmouth, with a large body of troops – but to Malta in the first instance – but if the Russians choose to occupy Constantinople, they will get there before we can.

2

The little semi-tropical garden I told you of, in the zigzags overlooking the sea, is very flourishing – particularly Charlie’s <4> Australian plants. They grow quite strong & touffu, <5> even under the shade of tall trees – a great merit.

I send you a specimen of a large bushy plant, covered with white flowers, & very effective at a little distance. I do not know whether it is Australian or not – but you can tell – Please write, & at the same time let me know where you are, & where Rosamond <6> is – as I want to write to her.

There is no one here but Carry Liddell <7> – who has not been very strong, & went to Montreux on the Lake of Geneva the other day, by medical advice. She is much better now, & the sea breezes do her good. I do want you to come to Cotehele <8> & here during the Summer – but want first of all, to know where you are now.

Today is fine – but the camp broke up this morning – The poor Volunteers are generally unlucky in their weather. Tell me what you think of the present political & military situation. My love to Constance <9>

Yr affte Sister

Caroline


Notes:

1. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.

2. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.

3. The Crimean War (1854–1856), a conflict between France, Britain and Turkey on one side and Russia on the other.

4. Charles Earnest Edgcumbe (1838–1915), JP, WHFT’s nephew.

5. Bushy.

6. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.

7. Caroline Cecilia Liddell, née Edgcumbe, niece of Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.

8. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.

9. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.

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