TALBOT3170

Cotehele House ¹
Calstock
Tavistock.
Feb^y – 11^th 1874

My dear Henry

I must write you a line to wish you all health & happiness on this your Birthday, which you see I always remember; & also to thank you for your letter of the 5^th – I heard not long ago from Theresa Nicholl. ² She told me they would soon be going to Merthyr Maur, ³ which would be very trying, as Every single thing there would recall her Mother. After that, they thought of settling in London – but nothing was fixed. – I also heard from Harriot Mundy ⁴ yesterday – She has been very ill – but was all right again apparently. M^r M. was tolerably, [sic] for him – but she lamented for both their sakes, that he would not move to some warmer place.

Did you see Sir W^m Gallwey ⁵ only got in by one vote? I should think M^r Gladstone ⁶ must be quite mad at the result of his coup d’état. I hope it may turn out well; for I do think his Governm^t has done a great deal of mischief; & I long for a change. It is curious how the Ballot has gone against it’s [sic] contrivers. ⁷ We have had M^r Carew & M^r Tremayne ⁸ here, on their electioneering tour. They had a meeting at a small place n^r Calstock, so dined & slept here. They are both very pleasant, & M^r T. clever & agreable. His brother, Co^l Tremayne, ⁹ is you know, the present possessor of Carclew. ¹⁰

Harriot mentions that it was said that Lady Holland had bequeathed Holland House to Ilchester ¹¹ – & she fancies it is certainly to be his eventually – but Louisa Howard ¹² thinks he has bought the reversion – L^y Holland being now poorer, & wanting to get money. We have had a bitterly cold Easterly gale for 2 days – & cannot keep it out of the House. It nips one, & unfits me, at least, for anything. I hope you are all well in spite of it, & Charles ¹³ better. Which way does he vote?

Our vegetation is backward – only some snowdrops & crocuses – but I have on the table a lovely bouquet of large, out-of-door, pink rhododendrons, from M^t Edgcumbe. ¹⁴ I ought not to forget that we have Czar violets in abundance.

My love to all – & Ernestine ¹⁵ sends her’s [sic].

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline