Croce di Malta Genova
Tuesday. April 14th 1868.
My dear Papa,
Your letter, containing the letter of credit, was safely received on Sunday, and we thank you much for it. Your statement of accounts is perfectly correct and corresponds with Mama’s <1> memorandums; the last hundred was drawn on the 4th of April, that is why it did not appear on your paper. Of this Mama kept a part to pay the doctor, and for our private allowances &c but and Bayer <2> has still some in hand. But we did not like putting off to the last moment asking you for a fresh remittance, as we could not tell how long we should be kept here, nor where you might be wandering in the meantime. I can give you a really improved account of Mama today, as for the first time she has been able to move into the drawing-room, and is now lying on the sofa there well wrapped up in shawls. She will not stay out of her room more than an hour on this first occasion, but still it is a decided step in the right direction. Our weather has been extremely variable. Good Friday was so extremely cold, that nobody ventured out except Ela. <3> It rained a little and even some flakes of snow were actually seen falling in the streets. Sunday last, Easter day, was like most Easters in England, tolerably fine with a very sharp wind. Yesterday grew much milder again and in the evening we had heavy rain and hail – and today is charming, without much sun but quite mild and spring-like. We have just come back from a delightful walk along the old walls overhanging the wal sea, with such a view of fine mountains and endless promontories – and had previously visited the church of S. Maria di Carignano, where I ascended as far as the first exterior gallery of the dome. I concluded that the view from the top of all would not be much finer or more extensive, so having already counted one hundred steps I had enough of it and came down again. I flatter myself we shall know Genoa thoroughly – having been into all the Palaces that are shown, and into a large proportion of the innumerable churches, in most of which there is really not much to be seen. The gardens are becoming very pretty; the young vine and fig-leaves are sprouting, and everywhere they have the most beautiful bowers of Banksia roses, white and yellow. Labernums also in blossom – lilacs, &c &c. but these last are not numerous. We met some pleasant people last week, but who unluckily remained here only three days: Mr and Mrs Irby of Boyland Hall, Norfolk. They are the only travellers we have made acquaintance with here; the majority are not at all prepossessing, and latterly, since the great shoal passed through on their way to Rome, hardly anybody at all has arrived here. In the course of this week, our S. Remo friends, the Miss Stewarts are coming here. They have been staying a month at Bordighera, and have found more wild flowers there than at S. Remo. The Speddings <4> are going away in a day or two, though Margaret’s cold is not yet well – but their family at Mirehouse is beginning to get impatient for their return, and so they will do like so many other people, go home before the warm weather is fully set in, and so undo whatever good they may have got from wintering abroad. I am afraid I have not much news for you, so must say goodbye; with love from all,
I am, dear Papa, your most affectionate daughter
Rosamond.
Tilly’s <5> account of Miss White <6> seems very promising – She says you helped her materially in her enquiries about her.
Notes:
1. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
2. M J Bayer, courier.
3. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
4. John James Spedding (1834-1909), JP.
5. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
6. See Doc. No: 09347.