[this is written on the same sheet as a note from Caroline - see Doc. No: 06240]
Rome Tuesday 1st May 1849.
My dear Henry,
The much talked of intervention is come at last, which I cannot say I expected, after hearing for the last 3 months of the French embarking at Toulon – They did however arrive at Civitavecchia on Wednesday last, & took possession after a small show of resistance. Here however it is different – for they set to work making barricades at all the gates, & declared their intention of dying rather than suffering them to enter. Some people thought they would not advance upon Rome but enter into some arrangement with the ruling powers – but it proved otherwise, for yesterday morng we heard the firing begin, & fm Jane’s <1> house at on Mte Pincio we could plainly see the French troops on the heights beyond St Peters. The fight did not seem very animated, but it must have been more serious than we thought for there were certainly some killed & wounded & some French prisoners brought in – but how many it is impossible to say for one cannot rely on the truth of anything one hears. It is said the French got into the Vatican gardens & were repulsed which seems very strange – however they certainly have been prevented entering Rome, which is more than one expected – Of course they are very much elated as you may suppose & very grand in their proclamations about the new Brennus attacking Rome & being defeated by the descendants of Scipio & Brutus &c & more determined than ever to resist the French. I heard just now the latter did not bring a surgeon with them & had to send & ask the Triumvirs, who immediately sent some – if true it wd be a proof they did not intend to fight but expected to enter quietly. Now there is a report of an armistice certainly there has been no firing all day. I will not send this yet – perhaps tomorrow I may be able to tell you something more decisive.
Wednesday 2nd
They say the Neapolitans are coming up now with the Roman Gen. Zucchi <2>.
Friday.
There is still nothing decisive to tell you, so I must send this by the Viadi Mare today. One cannot know the rights of anything. Some say the Neapolitans are at Valmontone near Palestrina others that [they?] <3> are in retreat! – & that the French have been repulsed in their attack on Aneona. It is really all very unaccountable. The defences here are going on with great vigour. Barricades in all the streets & embankments at the gates & fresh soldiers or at least volunteers coming in from Viterbo & all parts It seems the fighting on Monday was much more serious than we thought. They were a great many killed, particularly of the French, who were fired on from the walls. It seems to have been a very bungling affair altogether – & I don’t see how it is all to end. Car. <4> got a letter from Constance <5> the other day – we were so pleased to see her handwriting & hear she was a little better – give our tender love to her & A. <6>
Yr aff sister Horatia
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Angleterre
Via di mare Inghilterra
Notes:
1. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).
2. See Doc. No: 06188.
3. Text obscured by seal.
4. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister.
5. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
6. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].