TALBOT8938

Mount Edgcumbe ¹
Jan^y 23^rd 1865

My dear Henry

Theresa Digby ² wrote to me also, but as her letter went first to Cotehele, ³ it was some days before it reached me. She told me that the funeral ⁴ was to take place last Thursday at Abbotsbury ⁵ - as he had expressed a particular wish to be laid by his Mother. ⁶ She also said that during his illness, he was as patient & gentle as usual.

The Executors are L^d Digby & Henry Frampton ⁷ - The latter was unfortunately laid up with the gout, & could not assist Lord Digby - M^rs John Strangways, ⁸ who is sole Guardian, came down to Minterne with her 2 children, to be at hand. L^y Ilchester ⁹ was alone at the time, but Theresa went to her directly, & staid till her own Sister, M^rs Hornby, arrived. L^y I. was very much exhausted with watching & nursing, & Theresa hoped she w^d soon leave Melbury ¹⁰ for a change.

What a terrible disaster you have had at Edinburgh.¹¹ So many lives lost - & the theatre itself will be a great loss to your ladies. We have hard frost for some days - but today it is I believe thawing, with every appearance of another Gale coming on.

The Bougainvillea is in full bloom at the W. Villa. ¹² More blossom, I am told, than it ever had before - & the Acacia with pale yellow tufts in bunches - It reaches to the roof - & has a large trunk, like a tree. The Palms are all luxuriant. Love to all -

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline

We go tomorrow to Pamflete for a few days,¹³ & Joybridge then return here.

[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Es^re
13 Great Stewart Street
Edinburgh
N.B.