From W. E. Darwin to Emma Darwin 22 May [1883]

My dear Mother,

We find ourselves here in a downright Italian Inn. We have a vast bedroom with a curtained recess for the beds a brick floor & the walls & ceilings covered with frescos; The beds are clean & the food dair so we are comfortable.

It is a beautiful journey from Varenna here, especially the railway part— I was glad to show Bergamo t S. in passing

The Italian Lakes are very lovely, but I doubt whether I should stand them for more than a week; it is difficult to get walks that are not paved with slippery stones, which is tiring; but we found a few lovely walks at Varenna. The Cholera fear is fading, so we go to Verona tomorrow for 3 days & thence to Innsbruck giving up Lago di Garda. S. is thriving in the sun and is resting now after a little sightseeing this morning, especially the celebrated bronze statue of "victory" found was built in a wall; Sara rests by starring out of our window into the Piazza del Duomo & comparing people & ways with her own country & she finds some resemblances.

We go a drive today when it is col to the Campo Santo to see the fine view of the Alps.

We are quite out of the line of newspapers, so I am anxious to learn at Verona if anything has happened; the telegrams in Italian papers are scanty.

It is the general election here tomorrow which will be interesting. It is amusing to find just the same electoral speeches here as with us—agricultural Depression—the possibility of protecting [illeg] duties— the Ministry are neglecting to make Italy folk as a power among the powers of Europe, are not sufficiently protecting Colonial interests— those who are accused of opposing religion say they no not oppose "real religion", but only that which checks civil progress [illeg]

I must now go and prowl round a church or two. I think this will find you a at Cambridge again enjoying the flowers with a light heart after having done L.H.P. Bessy is full of go & enjoys it all

S. sends her best love

Goodbye dear Mother | Your affect son | WED