TALBOT7841

The Winter Villa ¹
April 8^th 1859

My dear Henry

I wish you joy with all my heart of dear Matilda’s ² approaching marriage, as it seems to give you so much satisfaction, & to promise her so much happiness. I received your letter by the second post (recently established) on Wednesday, & was quite taken by surprise, as you may imagine; for you have kept the affair so snug, I could have no idea that anything was impending. I only hope that her prétendu ³ is all that you could wish. He ought to be very charming to be worthy of her – & also to have succeeded in attracting her away from her happy home. Pray give her my best & tenderest love & congratulations – & also to Constance, ⁴ on this happy event – though I fear you will all miss her dreadfully. I am glad that he has an occupation – tho’ so dry a one as the law – & I hope they will be comfortably off – but I could have wished a little more fortune – though I am far from thinking that the most essential ingredient to happiness. Milord & Ernestine, & Val & Charlie, ⁵ (who are both here) send their congratulations & best wishes to Matilda. Charlie came down for a few days leave, very difficult to get just now, & returns to Town tomorrow. Shall you, individually, be continuing to stay at Edinboro’ ⁶ or have we any hopes of seeing you here this Spring? Do come if you can. Milord has been a little better lately – He has been trying Homœopathy with a certain amount of success. Is Major Bolton ⁷ of the Royal Artillery, whom we know here very well, the son of your M^r Bolton ⁸ the lawyer?

With love to everybody

Y^r aff^te
Caroline

Please thank Amandier ⁹ for her charming long letter received Yesterday.