Hotel de l’Europe. Venice
Sunday Dec 20th

My dear Papa,

I was just intending to write to you when your letter arrived – in time to prevent my directing to Lacock – I am very glad you are going to spend Christmas with Tilly, and as the weather is so mild you will not mind the journey much I dare say, though it is the month of Dec^r – like you we have several bushes of Chimonanthus in flower in the King’s garden here – and plenty of a species of Euonymas – but to send you a complete list we must pay a visit to the Botanic garden which we have been intending to do for some time but the rain has prevented us – This is the most damp & changeable climate – mild and very healthy… but full of sea fog and gloomy to a degree – but when the bright days come they are most enjoyable – only it is a pity they are so few and far between. Sunday last was fine – also friday and part of today – all others more or less wet and dark.

Charles seems to have had unfavourable weather in many places but the last we heard from him was from Nice – On the Corniche they have had much finer weather than with us, as we hear from letters from Miss Wood and the Miss Stewarts who are at San Remo – The country there they say is looking beautiful this year – all green & fresh like Spring owing to the Autumn rains – wheras [sic] last year at that time you may remember how dry and brown we found it –

The English church there has just been opened: when we left in the Spring they were just only beginning to dig the foundations! – What do you think of the conduct of M^r Merewether our english chaplain who goes away for Christmas and has shut up his church till the Spring as he calmly announced to a congregation of some 30 people a fortnight ago… luckily for us M^r Gray the Scotch minister preaches well – and his little congregation – comprising I should say more English & Americans than Scotch has about doubled in consequence –

Mamie wishes me to thank you for forwarding her letter from America which she received safely, and she will also be glad to get Stilwells account when Charles comes – and she hopes to hear from you whilst you are at Dabton!, you will have plenty to tell us I should think and will find a great difference in the children not having seen them for some time. – Jack is becoming quite a good correspondent – and the other day wrote a letter in French to Henriette which she has been intending to answer ever since but has not yet succeeded in accomplishing.

Monie heard from M^r Abbott ^<1> from Florence dated the 7^th they found snow pretty deep on the ground between this and Padua and have had bad weather generally – at Padua they failed to see Giotto’s curious frescoes as the proprietor of the chapel lives in the country and insists on keeping the key in his pocket, to the great annoyance of travellers – and he was as you may imagine much disappointed – From Belgium they made an excursion to see Ravenna and were much interested by the churches full of old Mosaics similar to those in St. Mark’s but finer in his opinion. It must be a curious place from what he says and it is a pity that it should be off our line of route – but the hotel is not particularly recommended.

Will you please to tell Tilly that Mamie wrote to her last Tuesday or Wednesday – and as this will reach you about Christmas – will you please to give to every body at Dabton all the good wishes of the season with our loves and kisses to the children &c

Good-bye dear Papa y^r affec^te daughter
Ela

I am glad you succeeded with the Datura at Lacock there is no reason why it should not do with us, as well as in Switzerland, and a few fine plants on the hall steps would look beautiful in the Autumn.

Galiganni also mentions that the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn had left for Cannes owing to poor Lady M^t E. illness – but we have seen no further notice – it is very sad, but from the last accounts we heard – she seemed to be getting worse and perhaps the season being damper than usual may not have suited her so well ths year. It is wonderful how well hitherto she has been able to bear those long journeys –

Post just came in – has brought a letter from Tilly to Monie of the 16^th. We are glad to see she has returned home at last, and hope all the children better.

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Notes:

1. F Abbott, Secretary of General Post Office, Edinburgh.