Hotel de l’Europe
Venice December 6th
My dear Henry
Thank you for sending me so quickly the letter of Credit – I received it by yesterday evening’s post – and besides yours we had a letter from Charles at Paris – He seems to be making the most of his time, & he writes a full description (with his impressions) of Nôtre Dame, &c &c – He doesn’t complain of cold, but he has gloomy damp weather. I suppose he will scarcely reach Venice under a fortnight from the present time. Neither of you allude to the downfall of Disraeli’s Ministry – but I suppose you scarcely surmised it would follow so quickly on the Elections – Our ‘Gazzetta di Venezia’ gave it, as a report only, on Friday – and confirmed the news yesterday (Saturday) as you will see by the enclosed scrap – you will be amused at the orthography of some of the names – and the Argyll Peli puzzles us altogether! – My Brother writes from Markeaton (Nov 30th) “We are just beginning to breathe again after all the bustle of the Elections: indeed you have been happy to have been out of the way the last 10 days I think” – He appears less satisfied with the result than you are, (according to Charles): for he adds, a little further on, “What will be the upshot of it all, Heaven only knows!” – No doubt it is or has been intensely exciting to all who take such interest as they ought to do in the welfare of their country; and even we cannot complain of being ill informed on the subject, for Galignani’s pages have been nearly filled with it. Charles thinks you will not much longer endure the loneliness of the old Abbey – and I know myself that it is not good for you – at this dull time of year – What do you say about going up to London – immediately? from thence you would make an easier & more direct journey to Scotland – Spend your Xmas with dear Tilly, the same as last year, & then return to London to stay till nearer the time that you feel disposed to come out to Italy. – Rosamond has written to a San Remo friend to compare the weather there with our’s at Venice – We want to know whether they have the steady brilliant sunshine which we miss at present. I am afraid it is peculiar to the Corniche to have it always bright, and in this respect we must confess to the inferiority of Venice – We have just now a spell of gray English looking weather, but of course it will not last –
We did learn with great regret the death of dear Lady McNeill – for she was a favorite with us all. She had been failing in health for some 2 or 3 years, but the last we heard had been a much improved account through the Abbotts, <1> and we were pleasing ourselves with the hope of seeing her better on our next journey to Scotland. – Too many of our Edinburgh friends are now lost to us – Among the latest of whom was the excellent Lord Curriehill – The Arbuthnots are still at Venice – but rather undecided as to the length of their stay. Sir Robert calls to see me very often & is very pleasant: but I rather fancy he is sometimes in want of better occupation. They have had an unsettled life for some time, & neither Father, Mother or Daughter appear to be in very strong health. We like them very much & regret that they [illegible deletion] did not fix on taking rooms at this hotel.
Your affectionate
Constance
[clipping from newspaper:]
Londra 4 – Disraeli consigliò la Regina ad incaricare Gladstone di formare un nuovo Gabinetto. La Regina ha chiamato ieri Gladstone. I giornali liberali raccomandano Argyll Peli all’interno, Childey alle finanze, Goeschen al commercio, Kardwell alla Guerra. Ebbe luogo una conferenza tra Gladstone, Clarendon e Gronsville circa il portafoglio degli esteri.
Notes:
1. Francis Abbott, Secretary of General Post Office, Edinburgh, and his wife, Frances Jane, née Parker.