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La Fortezza, Aulla, Lunigiana. - She and Robert are very sorry to hear of Sir George's accident [see 12/90, 11/134]; hopes that he is recovered by the time Sir George and Caroline had planned to return home. It is 'so dreary being ill in a hotel'; hopes they have 'plenty of amusing books' and wishes she were there to read to him. Neither she nor Robert knew the Villa Livia, where the accident happened, but their hosts [the Waterfields] described it and it sounds 'a most charming place'.

They are 'happily settled' here; Robert 'started working at once' and the weather has been very good. They like the surroundings more and more as they get to know it on walks. They are all very busy with their 'usual occupations' which makes life together 'very agreeable'; she practises the violin in the morning, in the afternoon they go out separately or together; after tea, when Robert is generally still out at work, they read or 'play with the 2 year old baby, a nice chubby little boy'. In the evening they read aloud; presently they are reading Hogg's Life of Percy Bysshe Shelley, which she and the Waterfields had not read before; since they are near Lerici it 'seems appropriate'.

There are 'great preparations for Christmas', as the Waterfields want to have a tree for the 'servants & contadini & the people in the town who work for them', whom they have got to know well. The people of Aulla 'seem such a contented flourishing population', with each farmer having 'their own small properties' which they work themselves and 'just manage to live comfortably'; does not think 'there is much progress, & the thing goes on from father to son' but there is 'little real poverty, or misery'. There will also be a small dance here on the 31st for the Aulla people whom the Waterfields know, with the band coming from a neighbouring village; this gives 'immense joy' and is 'very little trouble or expense'. Last autumn a similar dance was given; when the guests arrived they were told the baby was asleep and they 'all marched upstairs on tiptoe to the studio... & told each other to be quiet'.

They have also been 'much disappointed not to see Charlie's name in the new Government', as she is sure many people will be; hopes he will not 'feel it too bitterly' and is sure he will have 'a good chance soon'. Hopes Caroline will let her know soon how Sir George is doing, that she is keeping well, and that they have a 'pleasant Xmas'.

8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - They are very pleased about Mary [and Charles]'s baby, who is to be called Katharine; Caroline is going to see 'the little ones at Watford'. Interested in what Robert says about the new Ferrero ["Rome and Egypt"]; asks him to send it to them and let the London Library know. Loves reading about the classics, such as books by Grote and Ferrero, when he is writing himself; supposes it is a sign of growing older that he does not then feel inclined to read the classics themselves. Attempts being made to buy Coleridge's cottage at Nether Stowey; he himself does not 'value his poems quite enough... to condone him, as a man'. They are reading [Thomas Jefferson] Hogg's life of Shelley; Hogg was a 'wonderfully clever man' and it is a 'marvellous picture of Shelley'. Withers is getting 'very angry and blunt with Philipson' [over Florence Trevelyan's will]; will write to him when he gets an answer from Sir [Arthur] Middleton.

Palace Hotel, Rome. - Sir George is much better; at first his leg seemed to have 'lost all power' and they were very uneasy, though the doctor said there was no injury to bone or muscle; it turned out to be largely rheumatism and the 'vigorous measures' they took against this have succeeded. Expect now to be able to start for home on 28 Deccember as planned; they will stop at Bologna, Lugano, Bale [Basel], Paris, and hope to be home on 4 January. Glad to hear what a good time Elizabeth and Robert are having; Aulla [home of the Waterfields] must be 'delightful', especially in 'this glorious weather'. Thinks the Tuscan people 'attractive... & very superior to the South Italians'. Hopes the 'Xmas festivity' will be successful. She and Sir George thought Robert's observation about Charles very good. Envies Elizabeth reading Hogg [Life of Percy Bysshe Shelley, see 46/113] for the first time; thinks it 'one of the most amusing of books'. Suppose she knows [Edward?] Trelawny. She and Sir George have finished Pepys, and are beginning Keats's letters again. The Com[mitt]ee do not seem to have collected enough to buy the house in Rome Keats died in yet, but she thinks they hope to do so. Asks to be remembered to Elizabeth's hostess [Lina Waterfield], whom she remembers meeting at the Mill House.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Glad to hear they are all well; Caroline sends love; a 'cuckoo for ever calling here' makes him think of 'the dear little boy' [Paul] and of 'Will Shakespeare'. They have just finished Hogg [his life of Shelley], and thinks more of Hogg 'in his queer way' than ever; has been reading a Macmillan edition of Shelley: 'What a poet!'. Has read [Roger] Fry's article in the Burlington Magazine, and paid a second visit to the illuminated manuscripts [exhibition at the Burlington Fine Arts Club] yesterday before leaving London; has also looked through the British Museum facsimiles here and at Grosvenor Crescent. Hopes Fry's wife will 'go on satisfactorily'. The 'Doctorate business' [his forthcoming honorary degree at Cambridge] is 'very plain sailing': Lord Halsbury, Lord Rayleigh, and Sir James Ramsey will also be staying at [Trinity College] Lodge; they lunch at [Gonville &] Caius, whose Master [Ernest Roberts] is Vice Chancellor. Others receiving honorary degrees are: the Duke of Northumberland; Admiral Sir John Fisher; Charles Parsons; Sir James Ramsay; Sir W[illiam] Crookes; Professor Lamb; Professor Marshall; Asquith; Lord Halsbury; Sir Hubert Herkomer; Sir Andrew Noble; Rudyard Kipling; Professor Living; they will 'advance on the Senate House...like the English at Trafalgar'. in two columns. Is looking forward to dinner in the hall at Trinity. Went to Harrow on Tuesday and will tell Robert about it and about the 'Cacciola affair'.

62 Rutland Gate. - Unable to discover when last volumes of Hogg's Shelley are to be published as Moxon has taken the secret to his grave; what a reception Rogers will give Moxon for the Table Talk; [unnamed] contributor ('almost as deeply read in the Russian Classics as yourself') is preparing an article on the Emancipation of Russian serfs. Tourgeneff should provide useful material. Milnes' opposition to attak on Froude's defence of Henry VIII. Starting for Rome next week. Longman will send Shelley if it appears.

37: Includes copy of letter from Jane, Lady Shelley, to T. J. Hogg, on or before 15 Apr. 1858.