TALBOT6972

Mount Edgcumbe ¹
Monday May 22^nd 1854

My dear Henry

I was very glad to see your handwriting again, & wish I could see your face too – I wish I could persuade you to come & see us when you are so near (comparatively) as London, only that it seems hardly worth while just now, as I must leave home on the 3^rd for my Waiting – & there are only 12 days till then – However as you are sometimes very locomotive perhaps you may feel inclined to run down – if so pray do. I suppose I shall assist at the opening of the Crystal Palace ² –

We are in mourning just now for George Edgcumbe’s ³ eldest daughter who died the week before last. She had been ill all the winter.

I shall write shortly, as you give no address – & once before you did not receive a letter addressed to the Athenæum. ⁴

We have had a letter from Captⁿ Key ⁵ all well – dated May 2^nd off Gottland – He had had a most hair–breadth [sic] escape from shipwreck – but totally unconnected with that report – as it must have been subsequent to it.

Ilted Nicholl ⁶ is here – fitting out the Calcutta–84 –

Let me hear again soon –

Y^r very aff^te
Caroline

L^d M^t E. ⁷ has been very ill last week – but is much better again – Valletort ⁸ is still at Bodmin, & likes it very well – I never saw that report about proposing him for Devonport –

[envelope:]
to be forwarded
Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
Athenaeum Club
Pall Mall
London