TALBOT8753

Cotehele ¹

Nov^r 17^th 1863

My dear Henry

I was very glad to get your improved accounts of Amandier, ² & I do hope she will now continue to amend. Walking in the garden was a great step, or rather jump – & I only hope it had no bad consequences. I suppose she received a letter I wrote a short time ago? But I do not for a moment want or expect an answer – I only wish to enter a statement. I heard from Jane Nicholl ³ yesterday – so I can give you the latest intelligence.

To my surprize the letter was dated from Maurigy’s Hotel ⁴ 1 Regent S^t for I thought she was gone abroad. I enclose it for you to read – Please return it, & direct to me

Thanckes,

Torpoint

Devonport

That is George Edgcumbe’s ⁵ house, where we are going for 2 nights – & if you write Thursday or Friday, y^r letter will just catch me there before starting for Windsor. Please write Thursday – as I may leave Thanckes on Sunday; & the Post takes 2 days. You will be glad to hear that Val ⁶ has found & engaged a delightful Villa at Cannes – very dear unfortunately, & with the Villa Anna still on his hands – but as he is at liberty to underlet, I hope he will succeed in doing so. It is ½ a mile on the East side of the Town, on a rising ground with a good sized garden – sheltered by olive trees, & sloping to the South – & at the foot of it a pathway leading thro’ a little bosquet ⁷ of firs (probably Pinus Marittima <sic>) to the Sea. The view is beautiful – no dust or mosquitos – & seems preferable to Nice, where they went for 2 days to shop while the house was getting ready. Besides all this, the bay is very nice for boating & sailing, & he goes out in a good boat with the Landlord of the Hotel, who he describes as a Yachting Swell!

We are beginning our preparations, & hope to start the end of the year – I think we shall go for a day or two to Paris, then to Geneva to see M^lle Mosché, ⁸ who will die no other death if we disappoint her hopes – & then by ways which I know exist, tho’ I have not hunted them out yet, to Cannes for a few days – Thence to Rome – partly I suppose by sea, partly by land – But I hate being hurried, & mean to take the journey as leisurely as circumstances will admit. Now you must try & come too – It would be charming – if only as far as Paris & Cannes.

No more time today – with loves to all

Y^r aff^te Sister

Caroline

Lena Digby, Theresa’s ⁹ second girl – only 18, is going to be married to M^r Baring, Son of your old friend Francis ¹⁰ – He is desperately in love – & she has liked him all the Season I believe. He is well off.