TALBOT8761

Nov^r 30^th 1863

My dear Henry

I have never yet thanked you for the little Photographic engraving ¹ You sent me while I was at Thanckes. It is very soft & pretty – but is it not the same sort of thing you did 3 or 4 years ago, & that you got the medal for at the Exhibition ² last year? Will you explain this – because I am anxious you would now try your hand at something on a larger scale, to make you a name for photographic engraving – among the Public in general – what the Germans call ein respectable Publicum ³ I lent your Assyrian inscription to our clergyman at Cotehele, ⁴ who was much interested in them. I heard to-day from Katie; ⁵ She does not mention her health, but writes in very good spirits, & says she has taken several charming rides – & that in exploring the country they come upon such beautiful bits of scenery. I am just reading a book called “ Letters from Cannes ⁶” – It is a very simple unpretending account – but the descriptions bring back all that country so forcibly to my recollection – amongst other places she mentions Grasse, which I am sure Amandier ⁷ remembers, & the fields of roses, violets, jonquils &c for perfumes. It is by Miss Brewster, who must be a daughter of Sir David’s ⁸ I guess: & was written in 1857 – before so many odious railroads were finished. Katie’s little Girl Alberthe, ⁹ the second, is a match for your little Grandson. ¹⁰ She begged her Mother the other day to give them what she called some “moking pipes” – She said : “big boys have ‘em, so me fink big girls ought to have ‘em too.” She said “big girl” being aged 2 years & 8 months. The weather at Cannes is glorious. – I heard also today from Louisa Gallwey, ¹¹ She also has been abroad for 6 weeks with her brother Philip & his wife – They lost 2 little children in the Scarlet fever this year, & were in great need of change of scene.

Louisa said she should not have recognized Nice – Instead of being a nice small place, as we also knew it, it is now an overgrown town.

She was quite delighted with Venice – they had glorious summer weather (now, quite lately,) and used to sit out on the Piazza San Marco till nine at night.

Goodbye; love to all & please thank Amandier for her last letter, I am so glad she is better –

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline

There are many conflicting interests in the Castle just now with regard to the Schleswigs & Holstein question ¹² & Denmark – Of course the P^ss of Wales is one way, & the Crown Prince of Prussia ¹³ the other – & the P^ss Hohenlohe’s daughter ¹⁴ is married to Prince or Duke of Augustenbourg making des complications graves.