Thursday 24 March
My Dear Henry
I cannot bear to think of your being so hurried on a journey you undertake on such kind motives, and as your interests are quite as dear to me as Horatia’s, <1> I think she must take her chance for as much of the Season as she can get and you must have time to take your pleasure in Calotypes on your return, otherwise it would be a vexation to me to think you were so badly recompensed for having been so amiable as to undertake it. It would annoy me as the Loiblberg<2> has done from that day to this. I had a letter from her yesterday Evening, she says “I know when once Henry is lancé <3> he will be very glad to find himself nel bel paese <4> – Ch’apennin parte e’l Mar circonda e l’Alpe” <5> – She goes on to say “it will be no fault of mine if I am not restored to you shortly, I am only waiting with patience till it may please Henry to come for me, if it could please him to set off early in April I think we might manage to be in London the middle or end of May at latest, If he could see what beautiful weather we have I am sure he would be tempted & seriously such a whisk is just what he wants.” –
I have recollected since you went away that Vevay is reckoned a very good place to spend the Winter – being backed with high Mountains & with a South aspect it seems to unite all the opposite attractions for such different constitutions as compose your family. It has a steamboat arriving once every day from Geneva which would bring books or anything wanted. I was there in September & thought it a charming place exactly opposite les rochers de Meillerie <6> celebrated by Rousseau. <7> Tell me if we are to send on your letters after tomorrow – and whether you found Mr Moore <8> in town
Affly yrs
E F
Notes:
1. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
2. In the Carnic Alps.
3. Right frame of mind.
4. In the lovely country.
5. Which the Apennines spring from and the Sea and the Alps encircle.
6. On the other side of Lake Geneva.
7. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778), philosopher.
8. Thomas Moore (1780–1852), Irish poet.