TALBOT9527

Mount Edgcumbe ¹
Devonport.
April 14^th 1869

My dear Henry

Very many thanks for your two letters, ² seeds & Assyrian books – I have begun reading them & tho’ of course they are far beyond my powers of comprehension – or indeed those of most people, still what I do understand, interests me very much – & of course tenfold more from being your writing & composition.

What a charming change of weather! It will be just the right thing for travelling now, & I envy you crossing the Alps. Give my love to them all – & please tell Amandier ³ I wrote to her on the 29^th March – but very likely they left Venice before my letter got there. It was directed to l’Hotel de l’Europe. I wonder where you will meet them.

Ernestine ⁴ sends you her love, & is exceedingly grateful to you for the Greek Alphabet; Just [sic] what she wanted.

Some Persian Lilacs were in flower here when we came – on the 9^th of April! wonderfully early – & they must have been open, by their appearance, for a day or two – At Palermo they were barely in blossom on the 1^st & we have Jonquils out & so sweet! Horsechesnuts [sic] in full leaf – so on the whole we beat you here – tho’ not at Cotehele, ⁵ I grant. I do envy your luxe ⁶ of blue Anemone Apennina, & I think I must come & carry some away with me – unless you can bring me home some more roots – Do if you can – & cyclamens too. I hope you will have a very pleasant journey –

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline

We stay here till the beginning of next week, & then go back to Cotehele for a short space.

[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esq^r
Athenæum Club
Waterloo Place
Regent Street
London
S. W.