TALBOT9483

Cotehele House ¹
Calstock
Tavistock
Feb^y 2^nd 1869

My dear Henry

I have been intending every day to answer your letter – but have had so much to do, which I dare say you can hardly imagine, that I have not had a moment yet to put my good intentions in execution.

That was a mistake in the Times ² about Sir James Fergusson’s ³ arrival at Sydney. It must, I suppose have meant only his family – as I know his children were sent straight out to Australia – but why they went to Sydney instead of Adelaide, I do not know. I believe the middle of Feb^y was the time they expected to arrive at their destination. I have had altogether 4 letters from Charlie ⁴ – on board “Ceylon” – nearing Alexandria, Suez, on board “Golconda” nearing Aden, & Bombay – all very interesting. The last dated 31^st Dec^r –

I enclose a copy I have made of the Suez letter, w^h I think will interest you – Please return it when done with. We continue to get good accounts from Katie; ⁵ it had become rather cold at Cannes. Here we found a few wild primroses in blow on the 31^st Jan^y – The weather is wonderfully mild – but such rains! A cottage down by the river had 2f^t of water in the night, under the poor people’s beds – & the boat, in a dry boathouse, was afloat, from the same cause – At Cawsand, ⁶ great damage has been done by the sea washing away windows out of picturesque old houses &c

I wish you describe [sic] what Lucalia gratissima & Candollia [sic] tetranda & Eriostemon are like.

Goodbye – in haste –

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline

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