Rome.
Monday 12th March 1849.
My dear Henry
I got your letter dated 16th on the 27th Feby – The other you mention I am not quite sure about but I think on the whole we have hardly lost any except from Sicily. I am very glad you approved of Caroline’s <1> idea for the monument. It is so very difficult to get anything of that sort in England especially & we should have gone on procrastinating & never made up our minds. She has given the order to Troschel <2> who says it will take about 3 months to do in marble – but it does not signify if we are gone as of course it will be sent by sea to a correspondent of Macbean who is our banker here & in the habit of those things.
We are still going on in the same way under the Republic – they are taking down the bells of the churches to make guns, & yesterday there was a grand row at one where the monks refused to give up theirs & the mob set fire to the door – & a Cappuccino abused them well from the pulpit hollowing out voi non siete cristiani <3> & some old women cried very much. There is no money to be got they say it is all buried & now they are going to make some base coin to go on with. The minister Sterbini <4> who was the prime mover of everything has suddenly been turned out nobody knows why or wherefore. The Austrian intervention was announced for the 15th but that is not very likely now. Indeed I don’t much believe in any. The Mortons <5> are gone to England by Florence wh was rather a bold measure – & thro’ Piedmont over Mt Cenis. The Aberdours & Lord Ribblesdale <6> go tomorrow – Mr Hay in a few days back to Malta. We have had cold weather lately & several dark days the first of the whole winter. The anemones are out in quantities, especially in Villa Pamfili Doria but the spring flowers in general are rather back[ward] for want of rain. Poor Ernestine <7> was very ill for a day or two with a beginning of inflammation in her lungs & afterwards was a long time recovering Even now she is but half the child she was, but is able to run about Villa Borghese & gather violets. I was sorry to hear poor Mr Frampton <8> was so ill I fear at his age he is not likely to recover. I hope dear Constance <9> will get better as the spring advances it is such a grief to think of her so suffering It would be a great satisfaction to me if she was to see Dr Ferguson or some good London physician could not that be managed? Give her my tenderest love & hopes that she takes all possible care of herself – I trust to find you all better when I arrive – this time I trust pour tout de bon. Wish Rosamond <10> many happy returns of her birthday How tall they will all be when I see them. I am glad A. <11> was better at last & hope it may continue – Jane <12> has been very poorly with cough &c but is now about again.
Yr aff sister
Horatia
Notes:
1. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
2. Julius Troschel (1806-1863) German-born sculptor, Prof of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Berlin; primarily active in Rome; specilised in portrait busts, mythological subjects and some grave monuments. See Doc. No: 00214 and Doc. No: 06209.
3. You are not Christians.
4. Pietro Sterbini (1795–1863), poet, physician, and patriot. After the death of Pellegrino Rossi (15th November 1848), Sterbini became minister of commerce and public works. [See Doc. No: 06188].
5. George Sholto Douglas, 17th Earl of Morton (1789–1858) and his wife Frances Theodora Douglas, née Rose (d. 1879).
6. Sholto John Douglas, 18th Earl of Morton, styled Lord of Aberdour (1818–1884), and his 1st wife, Helen, née Watson (d. 23 Dec 1850). Thomas Lister, 3rd Baron Ribblesdale (1828-1876).
7. Ernestine Emma Horatia Edgcumbe (16 Aug 1843-1925), WHFT's niece.
8. James Frampton (1769–1855), High Sheriff.
9. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
10. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.
11. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
12. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).
13. Probably Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.