Lacock Friday
Nov. 12. 1869
My Dear Mlle Amélina
I received your letter this morning and am much obliged for the Magnolia seeds, which I immediately sowed in 2 pots in the <zinc?> greenhouse one of them with peat earth, and one with common earth, so that they will have a double chance. I once saw the magnolia in seed in the shrubbery at Bowood, but it is seldom seen in England.
We were very anxious for some days about Victor Emmanuel. We were not surprised that you delayed your journey on account of his illness, but hope there is now no longer any cause for alarm. I am sorry that you and Monie did not altogether like our advice, to take a Courier. But Monie had written us word about 2 months ago that she and you had decided that it was indispensable to have a Courier on the journey from Florence to Rome, and that you had accordingly engaged the services of Vittoria’s husband – Now she never told us, till her last letter, that this engagement had been annulled – We that we fully believe that V’s husband was now in your service and (expecting my letter would reach you in Rome) I meant to advise you to keep him on till you returned to Florence (provided of course that he gave you satisfactions) we knew very well that Vittoria could manage for you on the journey, but we thought it highly desirable that you should be accompanied by a manservant, for the sake of protection, especially if you quitted the railroad, which I though you had better not.
Nobody thinks of molesting ladies with a Courier, but they might if they saw two ladies travelling with only a maid. If your present Courier does not please you you can discharge him at the end of 1 month, or most likely sooner (as so many families are travelling to Rome) but then I think you should get another. My sister Caroline was very urgent about it. Tilly and children are expected here Wedny the 17th John comes a week later, being impeded by business Mrs Nicholl has been very ill by bronchitis, she is slowly recovering
Constance is pretty well and busy making preparations to receive Matilda.
Yours afftly
H F Talbot