TALBOT8096

The Winter Villa ¹
Stonehouse – Plymouth
May 5^th 1860

My dear Henry

I cannot resist sending you a flower which is in beautiful blossom just now in the Conservatory, & which is a special favourite of mine. Of course you know it – though no one ever does who chances to come here – & I never saw it elsewhere. We call it the Bignonia Capensis. Is that right?

It is very naughty of you never coming to see us & make an inspection of the Conservatory. Amongst other curiosities we have some tame robins. A pair came in of their own accord last year, built a nest & reared a young family. In the course of the Summer they all dispersed – but the old Pater familias returned this winter, & remained some time alone, but as tame as ever. We thought it a pity he should have no companion – & we introduced to him two in succession; but he drove them both away – & at last brought home a little wife of his own chusing.

They have now built another nest, & brought out into the big world of the Conservatory, two young ones who are learning to fly. It is very pretty to watch them.

We had a visit last week from M^r & Lady Catharine Long ² – she was a Walpole, Sister of the late Lord Orford, ³ & an old friend of Milord’s ⁴ – but they had actually not met for 37 years! – & during her visit to us, the Forte put in, to take Sir George Grey ⁵ off as Governor to the Cape. He also was a particular friend of her’s – & he came to see her & say farewell – But they had not seen each other for 30 Years! Was it not curious? Then also M^r Long told me he knew you very well at Harrow – but that must be 40 years ago I suppose. He is remarkably pleasant – & has a great taste for drawing, antiquities, the beauties of nature &c – in short he seems full of resources. I gave him your Assyrian inscriptions to read, with which he was much interested – & he begged me, when I wrote, to remember him very particularly to you – & to say that he always followed all your discoveries with great interest.

The Gardener has just gathered the Bignonia – but it is too large for a letter, so I shall send it in a small box – Also a beautiful pink thing –a sort of Passion flower, which grows in great abundance, I am told, in Madeira.

I believe we go to London ab^t the middle of May – to Farrances’ ⁶ – but it must depend on L^d M^t E’s health, & he has been very unwell lately – & is still so today. I wish you w^d just come down & pay us a little visit en attendant – Do dear Henry – it is nothing for you –that distance

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline

[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham