TALBOT6863

Torquay
10 Hesketh Terrace Crescent
Nov^r 10^th 1853

My dear Henry

It is such an age since I have heard from any of you, that I do not even know where you are – and shall therefore direct this to Laycock Abbey, in the confidence that it will be forwarded to you.

Milord ¹ had at one time great hopes of wintering abroad – but having tried the Yacht, & finding that although he enjoyed it extremely in harbour, & sailing short distances, it would be out of the question venturing upon a long voyage, & that the railroad journey to Teignmouth was quite fatigue enough for him, he determined upon taking a house here for the winter – so here we have been established nearly a month. Ten days ago however I went up to London with Ernestine & Charlie, ² on dentist business. Val ³ came to see us. He passed successfully a few days before, his Examinⁿ in Classics & Divinity – which according to the new System is half the work for his Degree – but he was in great trepidation before hand – as he found on his return to Oxford that the Examiners had tacked on without notice a 5^th Book of Livy to the 4 already ordered to be taken up. This was rather hard – & he had to read hard for three days & nearly three nights besides being very nervous – which fatigued him a good deal – However that is all well over now. – We four enjoyed ourselves during the week in London; we saw a good deal of Jane, ⁴ who is in B. Square, ⁵ & went to the Play. I took Ernestine for the 1^st time in her life – to Drury lane [sic] to see the Horsemanship & Gymnastics – no acting. She was in a great state of delight, as you may suppose.

Little Horace ⁶ is in Town, on a visit to Jane – He is such a little dear! – & such a contrast to Annie Porcelli’s little girl, ⁷ who is here with L^y Brownlow ⁸ – She is as black as an Arab, & he as white & as soft as Swansdown. We then went to Oxford with Val, & spent his Birthday there – He is actually twentyone! – Chi l’avrebbe creso? ⁹ M^r Gaisford ¹⁰ went with us, & they were all hospitality at the Deanery, where we lodged.

We returned here last Monday. Milord is much the same – occasionally better & in good spirits – & then again very suffering & weak. Sir Charles Lemon ¹¹ called today on his way from Melbury ¹² to Carclew. He seems very well. L^y Dunstanville^<14> is still in Town, suffering pain from her broken arm –

How are Constance & Amandier & my nieces? ¹³ Give them my love & Ernestine’s – & let me hear soon from some one –

Y^r very aff^te
Caroline

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Henry Fox Talbot esq^re
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Greta Bank
Keswick
Cumberland