TALBOT6135

Rome
Saturday 15^th April
Hôtel del'Europe
Piazza di Spagna

My dear Henry

I have to thank you for two letters ¹ - the first I got at Palermo & it was most acceptable after your long silence, & the other came in L^d Minto's ² bag to Naples & was sent here, so it was rather fresher than English letters had been of late. I grieve to think what a sick house you have had all the winter; but hope now spring is approaching the invalids will revive. I suppose A. ³ got a long letter I wrote soon after our arrival here, explaining the motives of our sudden departure from Palermo - & have no doubt you were all shocked at hearing it. It was altogether so sudden that it seemed like a dream - & since leaving Sicily we have not heard a word of Annie ⁴ - & it seems as if she was quite cut off from us. Lord M^t E. ⁵ never mentions her name to me - I know not whether time will diminish his feeling of resentment - I hope it may as the deed is done. I fear poor Flora ⁶ will be dreadfully shocked, not having had an idea of it before - I wrote her all the details as soon as possible, for fear she should hear it suddenly in any other way. - I am so glad Jane ⁷ is still here - She shewed us a letter f^m Aunt M. ⁸ yesterday. I fear there is but little hope for dear Ste - Poor Uncle Harry! ⁹ - The Mintos are just gone, w^h I regret very much. We saw a great deal of them at Palermo, & liked them so much[.] L^y Grey & L^y Georgina ¹⁰ went last week - I think it rather rash to set out just now, particularly for an old lady, in the ticklish state of the N. of Italy & M^t Cenis hardly fit to cross. Tom Montgomerie ¹¹ & his wife are going Monday - G. M. ¹² is expected f^m Naples. Our old friend M^r Petre looks much the same as ever - You can't think how well I remember all the things here - as if I had left it yesterday. The day after we arrived, there was a very grand procession to S^t Peter's, in honor of S^t Andrew's head, that had been lost & found again. We had a very good view of Pio Nono ¹³ - he has a dear good face - & when he knelt before the altar seemed really full of devotion. The Guardia civica presented a very noble appearance - the uniform is simple, short Roman swords & helmets with long red plumes & the men mostly handsome with fine Roman noses - We have just heard of a battle at Goito on the Mincio, where the Austrians were beat.¹⁴ It is wonderful what a bad fight they seem to be making - & what a sudden impulse of freedom & energy has seized all Europe. I really begin to hope for Poland. Some say that Prussia & Austria have both given up their parts - but the latter I can hardly believe. I hear also that Russia has declared war to Prussia, but really one knows not what to believe - it is quite bewildering - L^d M^t E. has taken the Villa Aldobrandini for 2 months - they w^d not let it for one. It is very near our old house, & has a garden, & view of S^t Peters, Nero's tower & S. Maria Maggiore - We are to move into it to-day if he is well enough. I am sure you will envy us being here - at least A. will inspite [sic] of herself. Tell her how much this place brings back her & happy old times - I forgot always to thank Rosamond ¹⁵ for a very nice letter she wrote me long ago - Love to them all & to Constance, ¹⁶ who has I fear had a deal of trouble & anxiety this winter. Pray write - now you have no pretext of there being no Post & we shall get y^r letters in a more reasonable time. Tell us all that is going on in England & Ireland - & what accounts you hear of people travelling home, & w^h way is considered safest.

Addio Y^r aff^te sister
Horatia