San Remo. Friday Jany 17
My dear Henry
I have received your letter of the 8th and 11th since Monie wrote to you on Sunday 12th Thanks for sending us ‘No Thoroughfare’; also the letter from Mrs Vardon, which, tho’ not important, she seems to have written with the intention of its being forwarded – You will be pleased to know that we see the Times almost daily, & the Saturday Review through the civility of some Ladies Miss Steuarts to whom their Brother sends it – and we have our Galignani regularly, so that we are perfectly well informed on all the most important news both at home & abroad. The weather-reports have an especial interest, and make us duly sensible of the superiority of San Remo in point of climate over the majority of other places – Although it is admitted of by its habitués, that it has shared so far with its neighbours of the Riviera, in having had a colder winter than customary. Just now we have a most favorable change, and this is our 3d very pleasant day of the present week: which has enable dear Monie to take up sketching again. All the house, & almost all San Remo, have been attacked by Influenza – but I expect we shall soon hear the last of this. Mlle Amélina was obliged to nurse her cold for about a week, but yesterday she was out again & strong enough to enjoy her walk very much. My chief delight is in the splendid sunrises & sunsets over the sea with their varied effects of colouring, as viewed from the windows: because I enjoy this without trouble. I am sorry to say that walking becomes more & more difficult for me: – but Monie will have mentioned this in her last letter – as being the reason why I wish to try some mineral waters on our return journey. May, is I believe, the earliest time possible: but I must be guided by Dr Daubeny to whom I have spoken already several times: and I gather from him that Aix les Bains is as likely to suit as any of the more distant ones – It has the advantage of being in a pretty country and within easy reach of the Lake of Geneva which we saw so imperfectly last October – But I don’t want to discuss plans – at this distance. it will be time enough after you join us – only it seemed fair to apprise you of its having become quite necessary that I should try some of these Waters. The frost (your letter mentions) appears to have been very dangerous from the slipperiness of London streets, and one poor Lady (whom we meet at the tale d’hôte with her invalid son) is in great affliction, on learning that her husband in London had fallen & broken his leg. This news reached her on Wednesday – & from some delay in the post she has not yet received a second account. Her 2 daughters are at home – and she knows that every care will be taken of him – Still it seems a hard trial for a wife to be absent from his bedside at such a moment. – and she cannot go to him on account of her young son who is much too ill to be left alone at San Remo. – The Queen’s ‘Diary in Scotland’ we observe is now published, at least the first part of it – We do not however feel any impatience to read it, and it will keep very well until our return to England – especially as we have her other work just now lent to us by a Lady here: I mean the “Early Years of the Prince Consort. – the Royal Marriage & with various letters & Reminiscences” published by Authority – about which there was so much talk when it first came out. It is a thick vol. – & rather detailed – but is quickly read – and the loan of such a book is a real kindness at San Remo, where the circulating Library is rather limited. – Monie said we would keep you all courant of the approach of Spring flowers: so I am bound to tell you that Mr & Mrs Monkhouse came home from their walk just now with their hands full of the sweet pale blue hyacinth, & fine violets: & the other day Ela gathered white perewinkles: but these are the very first indication of Spring, growing in very sheltered spots on the live terraces. Don’t forget to provide yourself with suitable high walking boots: for nothing in the shape of a shoe will stand the wear & tear of the stony mule paths. – and the cordoniers of the town are but indifferent workmen. The youngest Miss Steuart & Monie have made some pretty sketches – & it is pleasant going out together under the protection of Miss Steuart’s very attentive Courier, in & near the Town – where otherwise the native population would be troublesome.
Love to Charles. – & tell him to write again very soon –
Your affectionate
Constance
So pleased to hear that Matilda liked the wood carvings – also that Pussy had a safe journey home. Poor thing! how puzzled she would be at finding empty rooms on her arrival at Lacock! –
[envelope:]
H.F. Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Angleterre