TALBOT5712

M^t Edgcumbe ¹
Friday 21^st 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 morn^g & 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 L^d M^tE. 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 L^y Jocelyn, L^d 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. & P^ss 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

y^r aff sister
Horatia