TALBOT6681

Mount Edgcumbe ¹
Friday Sept^r 17^th 1852

My dear Henry

Your little Book of Ornithology was safely received, & duly presented to Ernestine ² on her Birthday – She admired it very much, but was not, as you are aware, able to write & thank you for it herself – She sent a message however lately through Rosamond ³ (in a letter from me) which perhaps you have not yet received. Her arm ⁴ is well now, but she must not use it much, as it is of course, very weak. – I suppose you heard of Charlie’s ⁵ accident – how he fell down the hatchway of the Cloud & cut his head on the corner of the Stove. We kept him back from Harrow (where he ought to have been this day week) – as his head is still tender. He goes to London however tomorrow with a young Officer of Engineers, a great friend of his – & on Sunday ev^g – or Monday morning to School – & he is furnished with a medical certificate to exempt him from playing at football. – I hear you wish to know Val’s ⁶ present place of abode – It is Dorlin
Strontian
Argyllshire

He says the situation is quite lovely – & the sunsets by far the most [illegible deletion] beautiful he ever saw. The house looks down upon Loch Moidart – & on a small island just opposite rises a ruined Castle, the last remaining wreck of the Clanranald ⁷ property. Val only went there to read for a month – & as I believe he got there on the 1^st I suppose he will be coming home in a fortnight. Suppose you write to him. I imagine the D. of Wellington’s ⁸ death will make a great sensation abroad as well as at home. Everybody is wondering who will be the new Commander in Chief. Milord ⁹ is much better to-day – He has had a severe attack of illness – partly gout – but is going on quite well now –

Y^r aff^te
Caroline