TALBOT8934

Mount Edgcumbe ¹
Sunday Jan^y 15^th 1865

My dear Henry

I was much shocked at seeing accidentally in the Plymouth paper, the very sad news of dear Uncle William’s ² death. We had been sleeping at the R^l Hotel on Thursday, for the Ball patronized that night by M^rs Edgcumbe, ³ & it was only the next morning that we saw a paragraph mentioning the event. Another statement appeared the next day, by which it appears that it took place on Tuesday last at Melbury. ⁴

I am so very very sorry for this sad loss to all the family – & I cannot help writing to condole with you – for I know you will feel it deeply. I am unhappy too that no one has written me a line – I did not even know he was ill – & the news was therefore very sudden – It is true I have been moving about – but other letters have followed me. I left Osborne ⁵ on the 5^th & staid in London till that very Tuesday. I then went to see Lady Brownlow ⁶ at Torquay, & came to Plymouth – Where I met Ernestine ⁷ & the Edgcumbe family for this Ball. The next day I went to see them at Thanckes – but the weather was so exceedingly stormy, that they made us stay the night – which was a dreadful one – Such a gale, with rain & hail – it seemed as if the windows must be blown in. We drove over here the next day (yesterday,) 9 miles – the gale still went on, & the Post did not come in all day, as no boat could cross – I hoped however that today’s Post would have brought me a letter from some one of the family – but I have heard nothing.

Pray write & tell me anything you have heard – & how poor L^y Ilchester ⁸ is – & who was at Melbury with them at the time. Poor dear Melbury will never be the same again! Please thank Amandier ⁹ with my love for her letter & views of Edinburgh. also Rosamond ¹⁰ for her’s. Write here – in haste

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline