TALBOT9496

Hotel de l'Europe
Venice.

Feb. 17^th/69.

My dear Father

I have written to the Melksham ¹ Bank for some money thinking it likely that I may return to England at no long period rather than go to Florence &c. I write to ask you to leave the things which you were going to bring out with you which belong to me, in the charge of M^r West Awdry ² if you should leave England before I return, particularly the key which of the drawer where the Tower ³ keys are, and my pass book. -

I have partly pledged myself to make write a paper about the abbey for the Wilts Archaeological Society, ⁴ for which purpose I may require to consult some of the documents.

I expected you to have come out long ago, but if you bring the things with you now I shall probably miss them altogether. -

If I carry out this plan I shall go by the Brenner and Munich.

I find that I spend my money abroad faster than I like and not very much to my satisfaction, and as they evidently do not want me particularly, I think it would be better to return. I should not go by Paris but by the Rhine.

We have had some very fine days here & Today is a combination of a fine day with a fog. Yesterday was remarkably fine rather like summer. Ela ⁵ and I went to the Lido and picked up shells and some cuttle fish. - Monnie ⁶ had a sketching lesson out of doors. -

On Saturd Sunday, Mamma ⁷ and I went to Murano, where we found a curious palace. There is a church of great interest being somewhat severely restored. The eastern part however was so surrounded with palisading that we could see but little of it. -

I do not propose to return to Lacock if I go to England but to stay in London.

The worst of Venice is that there is I suspect a great liability to fogs than in other places. -

I am anxious to see what parliament does. It meets I believe today. -

I pointed out in my letter to you the fact of a Jew being Senior wrangler. ⁸ You mentioned the same in a letter that crossed -

I was glad to hear that there was a chance of the pony ⁹ being sold

Your affect son

Charles

Mamma wrote to you on the 11^th.
Monnie says they will start by the beginning of the next month.