TALBOT2091

Mount Edgcumbe ¹
Devonport.

Thursday 26^th 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 Co^l 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 –

Y^r aff^te Sister

Caroline