Rome
Saturday 15th April
Hôtel del'Europe
Piazza di Spagna
My dear Henry
I have to thank you for two letters <1> - the first I got at Palermo & it was most acceptable after your long silence, & the other came in Ld Minto's <2> bag to Naples & was sent here, so it was rather fresher than English letters had been of late. I grieve to think what a sick house you have had all the winter; but hope now spring is approaching the invalids will revive. I suppose A. <3> got a long letter I wrote soon after our arrival here, explaining the motives of our sudden departure from Palermo - & have no doubt you were all shocked at hearing it. It was altogether so sudden that it seemed like a dream - & since leaving Sicily we have not heard a word of Annie <4> - & it seems as if she was quite cut off from us. Lord Mt E. <5> never mentions her name to me - I know not whether time will diminish his feeling of resentment - I hope it may as the deed is done. I fear poor Flora <6> will be dreadfully shocked, not having had an idea of it before - I wrote her all the details as soon as possible, for fear she should hear it suddenly in any other way. - I am so glad Jane <7> is still here - She shewed us a letter fm Aunt M. <8> yesterday. I fear there is but little hope for dear Ste - Poor Uncle Harry! <9> - The Mintos are just gone, wh I regret very much. We saw a great deal of them at Palermo, & liked them so much[.] Ly Grey & Ly Georgina <10> went last week - I think it rather rash to set out just now, particularly for an old lady, in the ticklish state of the N. of Italy & Mt Cenis hardly fit to cross. Tom Montgomerie <11> & his wife are going Monday - G. M. <12> is expected fm Naples. Our old friend Mr Petre looks much the same as ever - You can't think how well I remember all the things here - as if I had left it yesterday. The day after we arrived, there was a very grand procession to St Peter's, in honor of St Andrew's head, that had been lost & found again. We had a very good view of Pio Nono <13> - he has a dear good face - & when he knelt before the altar seemed really full of devotion. The Guardia civica presented a very noble appearance - the uniform is simple, short Roman swords & helmets with long red plumes & the men mostly handsome with fine Roman noses - We have just heard of a battle at Goito on the Mincio, where the Austrians were beat.<14> It is wonderful what a bad fight they seem to be making - & what a sudden impulse of freedom & energy has seized all Europe. I really begin to hope for Poland. Some say that Prussia & Austria have both given up their parts - but the latter I can hardly believe. I hear also that Russia has declared war to Prussia, but really one knows not what to believe - it is quite bewildering - Ld Mt E. has taken the Villa Aldobrandini for 2 months - they wd not let it for one. It is very near our old house, & has a garden, & view of St Peters, Nero's tower & S. Maria Maggiore - We are to move into it to-day if he is well enough. I am sure you will envy us being here - at least A. will inspite [sic] of herself. Tell her how much this place brings back her & happy old times - I forgot always to thank Rosamond <15> for a very nice letter she wrote me long ago - Love to them all & to Constance, <16> who has I fear had a deal of trouble & anxiety this winter. Pray write - now you have no pretext of there being no Post & we shall get yr letters in a more reasonable time. Tell us all that is going on in England & Ireland - & what accounts you hear of people travelling home, & wh way is considered safest.
Addio Yr affte sister
Horatia
Notes:
1. See Doc. No: 06117, and Doc. No: 06075.
2. Elliot Murray, 2nd Earl of Minto (1782-1859), statesman. He was attempting to broker a peace deal between Sicily and Naples.
3. Amélina Petit De Billier, 'Mamie', 'Amandier' (1798-1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
4. At the beginning of April, just as her family was about to leave by boat, Caroline's husband's niece through his sister, Lady Caroline Sophia Edgcumbe (d. 10 April 1824), who was the first wife of Reginald George Macdonald (d. 1873), Annie Sarah (sometimes Sarah Anne) married Alfredo Salvatori Ruggioro Andrea, Baron Porceilli di Sant Andrea, a Sicilian nobleman and revolutionary commander.
5. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797-1861), WHFT's brother-in-law.
6. Another of Caroline's husband's nieces, The Honorable Flora Isabella Clementina Macdonald (1822-1899), Maid of Honor and later Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria.
7. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796-1874).
8. Lady Mary Lucy Cole, née Strangways, first m. Talbot (1776-1855), WHFT's aunt.
9. Stephen Fox Strangways, Lord Stavordale (1817-1848), son of Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787-1858).
10. Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby, Lady Grey (1776-1861) and probably Lady Georgina Mary Louisa Moreton (d. 1867) - see Doc. No: 06189.
11. Thomas Molyneux Montgomerie (1788-1855).
12. Rev George Stephen Molyneux Montgomerie (1790-1850), close friend of Talbot family, artist, Rector of Garboldisham, near Thetford, Norfolk.
13. Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti (1792-1878), Pope Pius IX from 1846 to 1878.
14. Goito, North of Mantua, was a strategic crossing point across the River Mincio. The Italian forces beat the Austrians there in April and May of 1848.
15. Rosamond Constance 'Monie' Talbot (1837-1906), artist & WHFT's 2nd daughter.
16. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811-1880), WHFT's wife.