TALBOT8734

24 Charles S^t
Berkeley Sq^r
July 29^th 1863

My dear Henry

I had just settled to go to Melbury, ¹ on or about the 6^th August – when I find it will be adviseable to put off our visit for a few days, for the following reasons. I have written today to ask Uncle W^{m 2} if it is the same thing to him – (& if it is, perhaps you c^d manage to do the same). I mean put off. The reasons are that Val & Katie go into Staffordshire or thereabouts the end of next this week – & from thence Val ³ goes to Halifax where there is a funzione ⁴ for the P^e of Wales ⁵ – opening a Town Hall – on the 4^th . He then rushes down to Devonshire, to be present at the Volunteer Review at Exeter on the 6^th & then goes to Mount E. & Cotehele, ⁶ where he will squeeze out 2 or 3 days, in order to advise & help about the works going on there if I am there – If I do not accept this offer, he may not be there again for a month or more – which w^d lose much valuable time. I told Uncle W^m I sh^d write to you in the meantime – but I think a very few days, 3 or 4, later, c^d not signify Val will then fly back again to rejoin Katie ⁷ in Staffordshire If you like to come up to Town this week, or for part of next, I could offer you Charlie’s ⁸ room – for he is gone to Offington ⁹ & Goodwood this week, & next week to Cowes for the Regatta. Do – it would be very nice. I came from Osborne ¹⁰ yesterday.

In haste Y^r aff^te
Caroline

Answer subito.¹¹ If Uncle W^m cannot have us later, I sh^d give up Val at Cotehele

[envelope:]
W. Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
Millburn Tower
Gogar
Edinburgh N.B.