Hotel Victoria San Remo.
Tuesday Novr 26th
My dear Henry
Thanks for your’s of the 19th which reached me on Sunday 24th – That being an ‘unlawful’ day for business I made no enquiry for the Bankers agent till yesterday – and what do you think I discovered? That Coutts has a Correspondent at San Remo! moreover that the name is in the list on the back of my ‘Lettre d’Indication’ – How came it to pass that both you and I overlooked the same? consequently ignored a fact that of so much importance, and the knowledge of which would have saved us both some trouble – Between ‘Saltzburg’ & ‘Santander’ I find, “San Remo…Asquasciati. Frères.” Through the introduction of the English Physician Dr Daubeny, Signor Asquasciati called on me yesterday at this Hôtel – and with great civility expressed his perfect readiness to cash any portion of the £300 on Coutts’s letter of credit, although, as you are aware, it is not addressed to him – Will you therefore please, write, yourself, immediately to Coutts, and explain the matter. – I am going into the Town today with Bayer to Signor Asquasciate’s Office to take out £50 – being the first of this present letter of credit – and before leaving San Remo, I shall of course have occasion to draw on these Bankers for a further sum. – We have bright weather again today – but the quality of the air is very keen. – Yesterday was gloomy & cold to a degree quite unusual at San Remo – also several days last week were unpleasantly cold, sometimes with a bright sun & brisk wind, sometimes with a clouded sky. We have Monie keeping her room just now, with the Measles in a mild form, and Dr Daubeny says I may assure you that she is going on perfectly well. Still we are of course sorry that she should have her enjoyment of San Remo spoilt by such a tiresome complaint, that which should have been got over in her childhood. – We thought at first she had nothing but a common heavy cold, but on Saturday the rash came out unmistakeably, and she took to her bed – She is already feeling more comfortable & her eyes less weak & burning than they were on Sunday & Saturday – and today her doctor has prescribed a tonic, and wants her to eat a little solid food – but sick cookery, or indeed any kind of cookery is that great difficulty in this house. And we all come off badly since we were put in quarantine & banished from the Table d’ Hôte. – I almost expect that Monie will feel very weak when she begins to get about again, and require extra care for some time; perhaps even we may be obliged to remain on at San Remo rather longer than was talked of, especially if Ela should take the measles also – but we will let you know all that ensues – In the mean time you will be satisfied that all is going on perfectly well, – and I shall not write the oftener on this account. – But as Ela is intending to write soon, she will tell you in a few days of Monie’s progress – We have a very nice Doctor, which is pleasant, and I have consulted him for my rheumatism – Some of his family live at Seend, and in this way I believe, he has long [ill. del.] known Mr Kenrick. – who (Mr K) is now here at San Remo under Dr Daubeny’s care – We were greatly surprised, as you will suppose, to meet him the other day, when Dr Daubeny brought him in his carriage to this hotel. He has taken a small villa for the winter, & is gone into it today, with his Wife & another Lady – He is cheerful & very clear headed, but as helpless as ever. –
What deplorable disaster is that hurricane in the West Indies! – Galignani gives detailed accounts of it to day – and Torlola as suffered nearly as much as if it had been submerged, according to the first account.
I must now close this to save the post, and with love to Charles, I am
Your affectionate
Constance –
You should go & see Tilly immediately and give plenty of time on your return to Lacock, for Pussy to settle down comfortably while Goodwin is there to look after her Otherwise she will be in sad trouble with Fatty & Tiny & Blacky!