TALBOT8855

July 27^th 1864

My dear Henry

I found your note here on my arrival yesterday evening – & can only say that there is nothing I should like more than to meet Jane, ¹ of all people in the world, at dear Laycock Abbey – but as to hoping for such a pleasure soon, it is quite out of the question, I am sorry to say. In the first place I am here for a fortnight – & I cannot say exactly what I am going to do when that is over. I have various perplexities just now – besides that very serious cause of anxiety, poor Katie’s ² health. At this moment she is still at Esher, where she went for change of air, as soon as she was able – & Val came to fetch Ernestine yesterday, when I came away. Tomorrow they intend all coming up to London for two nights, & then they take possession of a house they have hired for a time at Tunbridge Wells.

Poor Katie has been very much weakened by her late indisposition – & has in consequence given up all idea of going to M^t E. ³ this year – a sad disappointm^t to her & all of us – She dreads the long journey – & everyone seems to think the air of T. Wells more likely to brace her, than that of M^t E. – I think very likely that when I go West, Val ⁴ will accompany me, to help ab^t Cotehele, ⁵ & Ernestine ⁶ will stay with Katie during his absence; but it is quite impossible for me at present to settle any plans.

I fully intend & hope however to come & see you – but the when, you see, I cannot fix.

Another perplexity is about the house in Charles S^t – As M^rs Ramsay would not make up her mind about letting it for another year, I have given notice to quit on the 4^th of August – but in the meantime her answer may still come – So that I have left all the servants there, with two sets of orders, according to what decision she comes to. This is all very tiresome – as all my goods & chattels have to be divided & packed or not, according to circumstances – & I have got a horse I want to get rid of & can’t sell, & I want to buy another & can’t find one – So you see I am full of uncertainties & troubles.

I had a quick journey yesterday by the 3 o’clock train, & a very pleasant traversée ⁷ in the Elfin. The “Fairy” was in waiting to take over the Duke of Cambridge ⁸ on a visit to H.M. ⁹ greatly to his ennui; ¹⁰ for he was engaged all this week to the Duke of Richmond ¹¹ for the Goodwood races; & obliged to pocket his chagrin. M^r Gladstone ¹² comes today – & L^d Pam ¹³ & some other Minister [sic] this week – before the prorogation.

I never saw the foliage in greater beauty than it is here this year – but the grass is entirely burnt up; & Val made the same report of Mount E. where he spent 10 days lately. I don’t know whether I ever told you that poor old Pauley, the gardener at Mount E. died in the Spring – I was very sorry, for he was one of the links of my former old happiness at M^t Edgcumbe – & the first time I went there after my marriage, he was one of the boat’s crew that took us over in the 6 oar’d gig to Barn Pool. How beautiful it all was, I remember, in the month of June!

The new gardener, who has been promoted from the Kitchen garden to be chief over all, is a capital good one, & they say the flowers are much more beautiful & brilliant about the house than they were. However the dry season has no doubt helped – Please thank Amandier ¹⁴ for her letter. It was a great pleasure of to see her & Rosamond ¹⁵ so comfortably. I long to see you all again at the dear old Abbey –

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline

[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham