Rome
17th Feby
My figliuolo caro <1>
You wrote to me on your dear Birthday, which Orazia <2> had taken particular notice of, tho’ we did not celebrate it otherwise than by talking & thinking a great deal about you. That poor Child is sitting to Mr Atkins for her picture tho’ she is still too thin to look well upon canvas. I hope you have had my letter with an account of her illness, & yr telescope which went by Lord Sandon. <3> She wrote to you likewise herself during her convalescence. We are packing up a box of books &c to go by Sea, which is melancholy as it looks like departure. If I had the least chance of ever visiting Italy again, I should the less regret it, but for me I feel that is impossible. These rumours of Wars are dreadfully dispiriting, & we can form no plan for the future till they are fixed. If it turns out for the worst c’est tout ce qui pourroit arriver de plus malhereux pour nous de toutes les manieres. <4> The thoughts of War oppress me all day long. We went with Romanowitz to a scavo <5> bought by Demidoff <6> two or 3 miles beyond the Porta Maggiore, it is the remains of a private house & would be amusing if it was more opened. We went under ground in passages covered with Fresco paintings, and picked up bits of Brocat<ello> <7> di Spagna enough for a Tripod, which we have given to a scarpellino <8> to make. The Duke of Leeds <9> arrived yesterday, bringing an account of a Brigand killed at Fondi; he saw him dead. This has rather shook <sic> Lady Mildmay <10> about her journey to Naples. Tell me what you have decided about Sicily. Rome is thinning very fast, the Duke of Devonshire <11> gone, the Cavendishes <12> going & the Watkyn Williams Wynnes. <13>
We have sent on to you in all 4 letters that have come by the post for you from various parts of Europe. An invitation is come for you from Lady Frances Vandeleur <14> but in general people know you are gone
Monr
Monr H. Fox Talbot
Inglese
Posta Restanta
Napoli
Notes:
1. My dear son.
2. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
3. Sir Dudley Ryder, Earl of Harrowby & Viscount Sandon (1762–1847).
4. Of all possibilities, that is absolutely the most unhappy thing that could happen for us.
5. Digging.
6. Probably Count Nikolai Demidoff (1773–1867).
7. Written off the edge of page. Brocatello di Spagna is a variety of marble.
8. Stone mason.
9. George William Frederick Osborne, 6th Duke of Leeds (1775–1838).
10. Jane Dorthea Methuen, née Mildmay (d. 1846).
11. Sir William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire (1790–1858).
12. Family name of the dukes of Devonshire.
13. Sir Henry Watkin Williams Wynn (1783–1856), diplomat.
14. Possibly Lady Frances Moore Vandeleur.