TALBOT8530

Mount Edgcumbe ¹
March 14^th 1862

My dear Henry

I intend going up to London tomorrow for a few days with Ernestine. ² My chief object is to see a house in Rutland Gate which is to be sold with all it’s [sic] furniture, which is quite new & very handsome. I told you before that I had given up the idea of a house for this year – & I sh^d not certainly wish to take one at present, unless the circumstances were very advantageous – which this appears to be.

The price, including furniture, but no stables, is 6000 Guineas for 80 years – Ground rent £34 – Most of the houses in that locality, & of that class, are 7000 or more – & my plan is to let it for this year – It is very near the Exhibition, but not quite so far west as Prince’s Gate.

M^r Boger ³ says the price named is the outside of what I can afford to give & he advises me to purchase. It is a “rising” quarter of the town – & I can no doubt get rid of it again if I am tired of it.

There are Stables in the neighbourhood w^h can be hired separately.

I have some thoughts of sleeping at Chippenham in my way back, for the purpose of going to Laycock Abbey to see how the bouches de chaleur ⁴ in the house are constructed. I do not know the name of any of your people there now, except the Gardener Wilkinson ⁵ [sic] – Will you kindly send me a “ Lascia passare ⁶”, to Schill’s Hotel, ⁷ 1 Albemarle S^t W. & perhaps some one at the Abbey will kindly explain them. What is the enclosed flower – a sort of creeper from the Winter Villa ⁸ –

Post going –

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline

I can’t get the flower today.

[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esq^r
Milburn Tower
Edinburgh
[wax seal on flap:]
Mount Edgcumbe Devonport