Hotel de France, à Nice.
Monday November 4th /67
My dear Henry
Your 3 missing letters from Cannes have come to hand by successive posts since Monie wrote to you on Saturday. I believe she closed her letter too late for that day’s post – & that it would only leave Nice yesterday at noon. – Before Breakfast yesterday she received yours – & at ½ past 5 P. M. I had also one of the 25th followed this morning by one of the 28th – So you see none were lost; and I am the more glad, as both the last named contained much that was of great interest & rather urgent. First I must reply to your observations about the threatening aspect of affairs in Italy: – which had already occupied our attention a good deal, San Remo being, as you correctly surmise, on the Italian side of the frontier – Although so far from Rome as to make it probable that no inconvenience or alarm might may shd occur to trouble us at S. Remo, we agree with you that it will be wiser to settle elsewhere for the winter – but as all is quiet at present, we have decided to go there for one month only, as already agreed upon with the proprietor of the Victoria Hotel – and then return to Nice. Bayer has arranged the terms of an apartment in this Hotel, which though higher than S. Remo, appear very moderate for Nice, and are rather less than Mentone. Our presant <sic> apartment is 40 francs – but the one I speak of would be 32f. When you come, there will be an additional charge for your room & Goodwin’s. We have experience enough of hôtels by this time to judge of the merits of this one by comparaison. – The cuisine is good: the rooms are comfortable, airy, & well furnished – and the interior arrangements generally good. – The situation opens to the front, as it <ill.del.> looks across the Paglione at its embouchure – which gives a pretty sea view with the bridge in front. – Ela & Rosd have taken a great fancy to Nice & Mlle Amélina is quite brisk & happy showing them every thing as far as time & distance admit just now – for we have wisely determined to keep the longer excursions in reserve – We are still greatly disfigured by the mosquito attack at Cannes – poor Ela having suffered the most from the irritable nature of her complexion. – But the inflammation is much subsided, & the marks will only be cured by time. Bayer got some excellent washes at the Chemist which we find very refreshing. – That Monster Hotel at Cannes shd have been fitted up with consierières, the same as they have here; especially as it is notorious that Cannes is infested with mosquitos this year. – and people who are engaged for the winter there have fled in the mean time to Nice, intending to return when the plague has diminished. – Thank you for all you have told me about 13 Gt Stuart St. I am very glad the house is let, although we ought not to have been defrauded of the full rent – being decidedly moderate for so good a house. Gray has behaved badly, to leave in that underhand way, without giving the regular month’s notice to her Mistress – and what a chance it was that our poor puss was not turned out into the wide world, through her fault & Rosy’s, – had not dear Tilly so kindly come to the rescue! And even now we don’t know for certain that her plan succeeded; for cats will sometimes run out of the way just when they are wanted. – Pray tell us if you hear the dénoument: for some of Tilly’s letters appear to have been lost, and she may forget to give us the particulars, or whether she ever did reach Dabton. – I have written to Tilly at Markeaton, & have thanked her very much for her kindness: and I hope the very next letters from you or from herself will say, that you have fixed a very early day for your visit to Dabton: from whence Goodwin will bring Pussy safely home to Lacock, before she has made herself too troublesome a guest – for I fear there are too many cats & dogs there to make it a very peaceable retreat for our Puss. You think we lost nothing by approaching Marseille in the dark? but I don’t agree with you, for we did see that dreary district of the Crau, & lost the striking scenery that follows – At Hyères I wished for you very much, to stroll with me among the gardens, so full of outlandish looking plants – I delighted too in the fine Palms with their heavy bunches of fruit, & the queer Cactus’s & Aloes – The great take-off from Nice is its dustiness, & I have not yet reached a fresh looking garden – We did admire the Estrelle route very much. – Having decided on the plan of returning to Nice, we intend to leave the heavy part of our luggage here, & travel à la légère to S. Remo.
The douane is just on the other side of Mentone, but will not give us much trouble. We go to Mentone on Wednesday, for 2 or 3 nights & reach S. Remo either Friday or Saturday, the 8th or 9th. I advise you strongly to address you letters there to the Hotel Victoria – they come more surely than when left at the Post office. – Of course you will make the next letter of credit, payable at Nice as well as at Mentone: – to give me the choice of drawing at either or both, according to circumstances – Please open those letters that are lying for me at L. Abbey – they may be of no consequence, for I don’t expect any bills. – We are very sorry to hear of Mrs Nicholl’s accident, for it must have shaken her very much, but it might have been worse; One wonders she could have escaped breaking her leg. –
We have very bright weather with a good deal of breeze which raises the dust more than is pleasant – and the air is decidedly sharp & very Autumnal. – Perhaps it may not be more than this in mid winter – and if so, what a glorious climate! –
Your affectionate
Constance.