Mt Edgcumbe <1>
Friday 21st Aug.
My dear Henry
We have been in a state of great excitement the last 3 days expecting H. M. who did not arrive. We heard she had sailed from Cowes Tuesday morng & since that she was in Portland Roads where she was lying to owing to the bad weather – & yesterday at Dartmouth. Luckily this delay gave time for Ld MtE. <2> to arrive – & this morning we were awoke by the news of the R. yacht being in Sight However we had time to dress & get down to Barnpool just before she came inside the Breakwater when the guns at Mount Wire began firing – followed by the Citadel & then by our battery which sounded very grand with the echo from the opposite shore. The Yacht came to her moorings close to the Shore & we could see Ly Jocelyn, Ld A. Paget <3> &c on board deck. – It was a beautiful bright morning to welcome her after all the bad dark weather we have had lately. Caroline <4> has been on board & seen the Q. <5> who said she was going up the river in the Fairy (the small steamer that always attends her) & would not come here today but means to honour us tomorrow She asked however for the P. of W. & Pss Royal <6> to come on shore & play about with their Swiss governess – & invited C. & Milord to drive with her today. They have had a dreadful passage & all been so sick – even the sailors the first day. It was very gallant to set out in such weather I am so sorry you were plagued by that foolish Maria Roberts
Love to all
yr aff sister
Horatia
Notes:
1. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
2. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
3. Lady Frances Jocelyn, wife of the Earl of Roden and Lord George Augustus Frederick Paget (1818–1880).
4. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
5. Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom (1837–1901), Empress of India (1876–1901).
6. Edward VII (1841–1910), King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British dominions and emperor of India from 1901 and Victoria Adelaide Mary, Princess Royal (1840–1901).