TALBOT8183

Steam Yacht
Dartmouth

Friday August 24^th 1860

My dear Henry

I was very glad to receive your short & welcome bulletin of the 20^th – it reached me here on the 22^nd I wrote to you last on the 17^th – The next day we left London by evening Express, & reached Exeter about ¼ to 11 – later than we ought. Some little time was lost at Bristol, waiting for an engine. The " New London Inn ¹" is a very comfortable one, with excellent tea & cream. It is the same Matilda ² stopped at on her way from Devonshire last winter. We found a perceptible difference in the temperature the moment we got to Exeter. That is always the spot where the more Southern climate begins – The corn looked wretched for a great way along the R.way – So extremely thin in the stalk, & such small ears we c^d hardly see them – half the stalk too quite green – with plenty of flourishing weeds among it. Farther South it had a better appearance, & some was cut. We had 3 or 4 fine days for Exeter & the trip here – But it has been pouring now since last night with very little intermission. It is gloomy work on board ship in such continued wet – & it must have been blowing a gale outside, for there is a slight motion even in this snug harbour – & we hear the wind howling in gusts thro’ the rigging – Several Yachts too have run in for shelter.

We found Milord ³ tolerably well on Monday – (We spent Sunday at Exeter, & went to the Cathedral Service –) & he has been out in his galley every day till today – As long as this lasts we must remain here – & you may safely write to me again – Steam Yacht – Dartmouth –

Val & Katie ⁴ are at Mount Edgcumbe, ⁵ where he is as busy as possible Volunteering, He has just been appointed Colonel of the 3 Corps of Devonport, Plymouth & Stonehouse – which is a very good thing, as it puts him above some troublesome persons – who or who, at least, might make themselves troublesome – & I am sure he deserves this appointment – for he leaves himself no rest night or day in the services & drills, or transacts other business connected with the Corps, from morning to night – Katie says that Lieut^ts & Sergeants are calling upon him every hour of the day. There was to be a great inspection of the whole Corps at Mount Wise Yesterday by the Gov^t Inspector, Co^l M^c Murdo ⁶ – whom Milord calls Co^l Make Murder! They are come for the letters – so adieu

Y^r aff^te Sister

Caroline