Mount Edgcumbe <1>
Saturday 5th Octr
My dear Henry
We had a great fright yesterday, but thank God it ended happily – We had been out sailing in the Violet with Ld & Ly Morley & Sir Henry Leeke <2> (who was Captain of the Queen when you were here 4 years ago) & the wind failing as we came by the island we left the yacht & got into a new boat of Ld Mt E’s <3> invention to be rowed ashore at Barnpool. This boat is made to divide in two & a kind of stage fitted on to the flat end wh remains when the other half is taken away for him to be wheeled out more comfortably – We accordingly got out & they proceeded to disconnect the 2 boats, while we were looking on – when to our horror we saw the remaining half in wh he was sitting in his chair lean over very much & the men all going to the same side it the boat actually tipped & turned over, immersing him in the water – You may suppose how frightened Caroline was & poor Ernestine <4> cried & screamed so piteously it was quite heartbreaking. After a little time (wh seemed however very long) I heard him calling out I am safe, quite safe – as loud as he could – wh was a great relief but still it was so long before they could extricate him wh with his great heavy boatcloak all wet, & we not being able to make out well what they were doing (as the boat had drifted out & was at least 50 yds from the beach – that we were quite in an agony, till at last they managed to tow or drag him safe to the shore – Most fortunately Sir H. L. had remained in the other boat to see the process & he caught hold of Ld Mt E. & held him up tightly all the time – There is nothing like a real sailor in any emergency – & he has suggested different precautions to prevent any future accidents of that kind – Even after he was safe from drowning there was still the fear of his having caught some dreadful chill – but I am thankful to say he is wonderfully well this morning & does not seem to have gout coming on – nor to be have been [sic] hurt by all that knocking about. He even talked of going out for a little sail today! but has been persuaded to keep quiet – He has wonderful spirit certainly & seems to have kept his head all the time he was in that most awkward & dangerous predicament. The origin of the accident was the awkwardness of the men (who were not the regular yacht men but the gardeners who are merely used to row on occasions) – but I trust am sure he will never trust himself to such raw hands again. The poor Violet was just coming into Barnpool & out of reach to help – I was so touchée <5> at Baby – who begged C. to take her to her room alone – & then knelt down & thanked God for saving dear Papa fm being drowned – she really is a little angel. She rides every day now on Val’s <6> old poney & canters even, with Joseph holding her to her great delight. The Morleys &c went away today – we are going to Saltram Tuesday, for the Plymouth Ball Wednesday, whereof C. is Patroness. This place is as lovely as ever – & I think in better order & more flowers than formerly. I wrote to Constance <7> a few days ago & hope to hear how you are all going on. Love to all – Caroline sends you hers –
Ever yr aff sister
Horatia
Notes:
1. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
2. Edmund Parker, 2nd Earl of Morley (1810–1864), and Frances Parker, née Talbot, Lady Morley (d. 1857). Sir Henry John Leeke (1790–1870).
3. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
4. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister and Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.
5. Touched, moved.
6. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
7. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
8. Rood Ashton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire .