TALBOT990

Mount Edgcumbe ¹
Devonport.
Monday 14^th August 1876

My dear Henry

I had a prosperous journey to Exeter – but was very glad not to be obliged to go farther that day, as the heat was intense, & the sun was broiling, even inside the carriages. After all I was ten minutes before the train at Corsham.

I had an easy journey next day from 2.20 to 4.45 – It was very pleasant on the water – & I went & sat in the shade of the orangetrees, before going up to the house.

Besides the D^ss of Abercorn & her youngest Son but one, Freddy Hamilton, & Carry & Athole Liddell, ² I found various Archæologists assembled. One of them was M^r Planché, ³ a very agreable, lively old Gentleman of 83 – He is the well known dramatist – & besides that, he is Somerset Herald. There was also Rouge Dragon Herald – & others.

A young man, M^r Borlase, grandson of the author of Antiquities of Cornwall, ⁴ has made a voyage to Japan, & visited the interior. He described a magnificent temple he had visited – which was approached by an avenue 100 miles long, somewhere in the mountains. The last 10 miles of the avenue consisted entirely of Criptomeria [sic] Japonica.

Today the Duchess & her Son departed for Ireland. The rest of the party, with the 2 eldest girls & Alick ⁵ are gone up in a Steamer to Cotehele ⁶ – where they are to have a spread in the great Hall – Val ⁷ goes on with the others, (the Savans) in the afternoon, to Bodmin; & my belongings return home.

The garden in front of the library windows, beats any thing I ever saw, in point of colours & luxuriance of growth; in calceolarias geraniums &c – They grow more like the flowers at Cannes or in Italy, than what one usually sees in England. A very pretty border is made by a row of Argyratum, against another of that small pink geranium with variegated leaves. You cannot think what a pretty colour is produced by these two soft tints blended together.

I should very much like to have a line from some one, to tell me how you all are, & especially how Amandier is going on. I hope I did not tire her. Love to all –

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline