Hotel de la Croix de Malte
Genoa
Monday March 9th
My dear Papa,
Charles <1>says that you are thinking of paying a visit at Penrice, <2> but, as the day did not seem to be exactly fixed, I think I had better, all the same, direct to Lacock. Please to tell Charles that I have got his letter, and very quickly, – for as you will perceive we have got nearer home, and the post now only takes three days! Please tell him also that the letter of mine which was lost contained, as far as I can recollect, nothing interesting, only I remember at first intending to direct it to Markeaton, <3> but which would have answered better, but, as he had desired us to write to Merstham <4> I thought it best to follow his instructions. You will have seen by Mamie’s <5> letter that your last arrived safely – (to Mama) <6> and also that we were very happy and comfortable here. The weather is not very warm and rather changeable, though the greater proportion of days are extremely brillant [sic]. We are constantly out of doors, have visited several churches & palaces, and other objects of interest – that is, I should say, Mamie and I, for Ela <7> has unluckily caught a troublesome rheumatic cold, which she is nursing to try and get rid of, and Mama, as you know, can get about very little. She does not at all improve in walking, and unluckily has such an antipathy to carriages, that it is all we can do to persuade her to take an occasional drive. Before leaving San Remo Dr Daubeny <8> wrote to the doctor of Aix les Bains, to enquire at what time the season there began for taking the waters. The answer was not before the 1st of June, so we have all the time from now till then to fill up. Not that we shall find the least trouble in doing so, on the contrary it will give us more time to remain at and enjoy each place we go through; and to begin with we intend remaining here till next Monday, at least. – (Ela would hardly be able to travel before that time,) and then proceed leisurely to Pisa. There we may probably also make rather a long halt – it is said not to be dear, and the softer climate may, we hope, do Mama good. It would also be wise to wait till after the marriage festivities before proceeding to Florence, else we might come upon uncomfortable crowds and prices still higher than usual. At any rate, I fear, Florence is too dear a place to remain as long as we should wish – And there is so much to be seen there, so many objects of art that it will be difficult to be satisfied with a very few days. Or rather, if, as we hear, the marriage of Prince Humbert <9>only takes place on the 20th or 22nd, we could manage to go there before, say about the 9th of April, and remain one week, thus avoiding the week immediately proceeding the wedding, when no doubt the fêtes will have already begun.
We were very much surprised to hear from you that Aunt Caroline <10> and Ernestine <11> were actually on their way to Cannes, having put off going so late that of course we thought they had given it up altogether. I have written to the latter, and expect soon to hear of their arrival.
We have not heard from Tilly <12> very lately, that is since we left San Remo. I hope none of her letters have been going astray. Our address at Pisa will be Hotel Victoria. I think Mamie told you all the news from here, including our meeting with Mr Peabody. At San Remo we had the advantage of dining for two or three days with Lord Shaftesbury, <13>who had come to spend a few days there with Lady Shaftesbury and two daughters. He talked a great deal with anybody who happened to be sitting next him at the table d’hôte. I suppose your next letter will tell us something more positive about your own plans, in the meantime I will keep this open till post time, in case of anything requiring an answer.
Everybody sends their love, and I am dear Papa, your affectionate daughter
Rosamond
Notes:
1. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
2. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
3. Markeaton Hall, Derbyshire, NW of Derby: home of the Mundy family.
4. Red Hill, Surrey, the home of Lord & Lady Hylton (Lady Sophia Penelope Jolliffe, née Sheffield (1822-1882); first m. WTHF Strangways, 21 July 1857; second m. 1st Baron Hylton).
5. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
6. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
7. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
8. Dr Henry Daubeny (1820–1887), surgeon living in San Remo.
9. Ranieri Carlo Emanuele Giovanni Maria Ferdinando Eugenio of Savoy, (1844– 1900), who succeeded his father, Victor Emmanuel II, as King Humbert I of Italy in1878. He married his cousin, Princess Margherita Teresa Giovanna of Savoy.
10. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
11. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (1843-1925), WHFT’s niece.
12. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
13. Anthony Ashley Cooper (1801–1885).