TALBOT8445

Steam Yacht
off Erith – Kent

August 29^th 1861

My dear Henry

I only received your letter of the 26^th this morn^g – & most sincerely do I wish you all joy of the birth of your little Grandson, & of dear Matilda ¹ being so well. It must be a great relief to your minds to have the event so well over – & I suppose it took place without your knowing anything about it.

You know by this time (as I had Amandier’s ² answer yesterday,) how dreadfully anxious we have now been for many days, about dear Ernest ³ – He is fearfully weak, & wakes up with very alarming attacks of faintness. He was certainly better yesterday morning – but it was a very trying day – & the consequence was that he had a very bad night, without any sleep. – He talked a great deal to all of us, trying to think of all he had to say, & to find out what he could do to please us. In the ev^g at 10 o’clock, a Clergyman much recommended to us, residing at the Victoria Docks, came & administered the Sacrament to him & several of us – & this fatigued & excited him a good deal. He was very unwell indeed all night till 9 o’clock this morning, since when he has been more tranquil – & we are trying to keep him as quiet as possible. Please thank Amandier for her kind letter, & tell her how very sorry I am to hear she is so unwell –

My love to Constance & the others –

Y^r aff^te Sister

Caroline

When he was talking to us yesterday, & recollecting everyone, he sent you his love & kind messages, & wished he had seen more of you than he had done.