TALBOT9445

Lacock Tuesday
Nov. 10. 1868

My Dear M^lle Amélina

Charlie Edgcumbe¹ is going to Australia! He has been appointed Secretary to the new Governor of Adelaide Sir James Ferguson,² out of private friendship. It is an excellent appointment and will last for five years, but it is agreed that if Charlie gets his Lieutenant Colonelcy in the Guards, he is to be allowed to return to England in 1 year and a half.

I envy him going to Swan River where the most beautiful plants in the world grow wild, but I am afraid they will be thrown away upon him! Caroline³ likes and at the same time regrets the appointment. She desires me to say she wrote to you lately and directed to Florence, to the hotel you named. The weather here is bitterly cold the other morning we had 13 degrees of frost! Tilly⁴ complains of the cold at Carruchan, she has snow there but there is none here. I was very much interested with the accounts of M^r & M^rs Abbott’s ⁵ adventures which you and Monie sent me. ⁶ Give my kind remembrances to them when you see them. Our earthquake of the 30^th October was felt in every village of North Wilts and through Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire as far as Swansea.⁷ All observers agree in the time between 10 ½ and 10 ¾ PM – In fact it was everywhere simultaneous. You will be very sorry to hear of the death of Lady Emily Gaisford⁸ it is a sad loss for the poor little children. I have heard no particulars & have written to Caroline to ask what she has heard.

No doubt you have heard of the death of our Edinburgh friend L^d Curriehill.⁹ Tilly has had a very nice photograph made of little Willie perhaps she has sent you a copy.

The Elections are coming on next week. Charles¹⁰ is going to vote for the County election, I mean to stay at home for I don’t care very much for either candidate. I was amused with the accounts you sent of Russian Grand dukes spending lots of money and eating no end of dinner. The Tartar nature still evident! with incipient civilization!

Love to all Yours aff^tly
H. F. Talbot