Lacock Tuesday
Nov. 10. 1868
My Dear Mlle Amélina
Charlie Edgcumbe<1> is going to Australia! He has been appointed Secretary to the new Governor of Adelaide Sir James Ferguson,<2> out of private friendship. It is an excellent appointment and will last for five years, but it is agreed that if Charlie gets his Lieutenant Colonelcy in the Guards, he is to be allowed to return to England in 1 year and a half.
I envy him going to Swan River where the most beautiful plants in the world grow wild, but I am afraid they will be thrown away upon him! Caroline<3> likes and at the same time regrets the appointment. She desires me to say she wrote to you lately and directed to Florence, to the hotel you named. The weather here is bitterly cold the other morning we had 13 degrees of frost! Tilly<4> complains of the cold at Carruchan, she has snow there but there is none here. I was very much interested with the accounts of Mr & Mrs Abbott’s <5> adventures which you and Monie sent me. <6> Give my kind remembrances to them when you see them. Our earthquake of the 30th October was felt in every village of North Wilts and through Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire as far as Swansea.<7> All observers agree in the time between 10 ½ and 10 ¾ PM – In fact it was everywhere simultaneous. You will be very sorry to hear of the death of Lady Emily Gaisford<8> it is a sad loss for the poor little children. I have heard no particulars & have written to Caroline to ask what she has heard.
No doubt you have heard of the death of our Edinburgh friend Ld Curriehill.<9> Tilly has had a very nice photograph made of little Willie perhaps she has sent you a copy.
The Elections are coming on next week. Charles<10> is going to vote for the County election, I mean to stay at home for I don’t care very much for either candidate. I was amused with the accounts you sent of Russian Grand dukes spending lots of money and eating no end of dinner. The Tartar nature still evident! with incipient civilization!
Love to all Yours afftly
H. F. Talbot
Notes:
1. Charles Ernest Edgcumbe (1838-1915), JP, WHFT's nephew.
2. Sir James Fergusson (1832-1907).
3. Lady Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding (1808-1881); WHFT's half-sister.
4. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, née Talbot (25 Feb 1839-1927), 'Tilly', WHFT's 3rd daughter.
5. Francis Abbott, Secretary of General Post Office, Edinburgh, and his wife, Frances Jane, née Parker.
6. Rosamond Constance Talbot (16 Mar 1837 - 7 May 1906), died & buried at San Remo, Italy, with a memorial at Lacock; 'Monie', artist & WHFT's 2nd daughter. See Doc. No: 09430.
7. This earthquake's epicentre was in the Vale of Neath and it was felt as far as Manchester in the north, Blackheath (Kent) in the east, Plymouth in the south and St David's (Pembroke) in the west. It was of low intensity, causing little damage, and there were no aftershocks.
8. Emily Gaisford, 2nd wife of Capt Thomas Gaisford (1816-1898), JP, whose 1st wife was Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810-1851), WHFT's half-sister.
9. John Marshall, Lord Curriehill (1794–1868) Scottish judge.
10. Charles Henry Talbot, 'Charlie' or 'Tally' (2 Feb 1842 - 26 Dec 1916), antiquary & WHFT's only son.