TALBOT6871

Torquay
10 Hesketh Crescent
Nov^r 28^th 1853

My dear Henry

I have been wishing to write to you for several days – but have always been hindered. Since my correspondence with Sir Peter Laurie, ¹ (which I never gave him leave to publish) I have received an astonishing number of begging letters, all of which I have referred to the Mendicity Society ² – a most invaluable Institution. They all turn out to be impostures. One of them in particular was unique of it’s kind. A man wrote from Cheltenham in favour of a poor widow, begging the answer might be sent to her address – Cumberland Villa. The Mendicity answer says: “Cumberland Villa is a lodging house for tramps of the worst character – & the present owner is in prison for a Garotte robbery!” – Is it not too bad! It was a mistake of the papers saying that Val, ³ was at M^t E. ⁴ Charlie ⁵ it was who received the Duke & D^ss of Brabant – & elicited the approbation of M. Van de Weyer for the way in which he did the honours. Val, was all the time at Oxford preparing for his Mathematical Examination. I am afraid you will regret, as I did, that he has given up, trying for honours in that branch – But he intends doing so instead in Modern History, bye–&–bye.

How much Ernestine ⁶ & I w^d have liked to see the Charades! – By–the–bye I think I told you that Val passed his Classical examination successfully a few days before his birthday – did I not? It consisted of Plato, Livy & Divinity. He was very nervous about it because he formed, a week before the time, that the Examiners had tacked on without notice, a 5^th Book of Livy to the 4 previously given out. – Lucy Nicholl ⁷ inhabits N^o 11 next door to us – Her brother Edward ⁸ escorted her here – but he is gone back to Town, where he also is reading for Oxford. Christina & Kate ⁹ came down for two days last week, & are now at Carclew ¹⁰ with the Trahernes. ¹¹ They will see M^t Edgcumbe on their way back, & perhaps pay Charles a visit. He & his tutor are staying there all alone. We get lovely flowers from them every week – Besides two or three green house things such as cacti, crimson amabile & camellias, we have from the open air: Roses, Petosporum, Violets, reseda, myrtle still in flower, sweet scented Verbena, Yellow Jassamine & scarlet Geraniums! Is not that pretty well for the end of Nov^r? I believe this place is much warmer even than Mount E. Today we have a gale; & the breakers are dashing up a magnificently against the rocks, in veins of our windows. We have not yet made acquaintance with the Captⁿ Scoresby ¹² you mention. – L^y Brownlow ¹³ is staying in our crescent, with her little black-eyed Baby. She is the image of Annie ¹⁴ – I never saw so strong a likeness in a Child – & I sh^d imagine exceedingly quick & clever; & no doubt difficult to manage as she grows older.

L^d M^t E. ¹⁵ has been a little better lately – & I am convinced he w^d not have been so well at M^t E. He can use his hands a little more, tho’ not enough to feed himself. Tuesday 29^th I send you two flowers, very pretty, that grow in the Bishop’s Garden near here. The white one is Physianthus Alba, a greenhouse plant. It grows all up the side of the house, & flowers in abundance. The other must be I think some kind of Lychnis or Chatch–fly – & is extremely ornamental in masses – particularly as it flowers so late in the year. It is of the brightest pink or cerise colour. –

I hope Ammandier ¹⁶ is getting better again – & that you are all flourishing in spite of the neighbourhood of the North Pole! Give them all my best love – I hope I shall hear again soon from you – & from A – when she is well enough, pray tell her – next time you write I wish you w^d explain once more your process of engraving by Photography I have had occasion to explain it to several people but so badly, having no head for science, that I am quite ashamed; & don’t forget to describe the charades. Ernestine sends her love to Rosamond, ¹⁷ & thanks for her nice long letter. She hopes soon to write an answer.

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline

How well & bravely the Turks ¹⁸ are behaving!

[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
Greta Bank
Keswick
Cumberland