Ivyholt. - Has had influenza for a week, and apologises for not writing sooner; [Defoe's] "Moll Flanders", which he and Helen got on Bob's recommendation, has also perhaps had something to do with the delay; praises it highly; says he and Helen feel that Bob is the one person who could have a similar success and wishes he would try. Has been 'preaching before my Lord of Rochester' and other clergy belonging to the Church Crafts' League; does not think the Bishop appreciated his argument that the Church had given Italian artists 'a Polytheism & above all a goddess' which were needed to paint religious pictures; wishes George [Trevelyan?] had been there. Is going on with his altarpieces and wonders when he will have time to paint; has a pile of books to review. The 'assistant Chalism [?] become more & more wonderful an acquaintance', and Bob 'will have to take in him hand' for his knowledge of old books and history; he has read Macaulay four times, and might do better in that line than in painting. He and Helen miss Bob very much; Helen says she will leave Dorking if he does not return to give them 'the talk of the town', which Fry does not have 'the art to pick up'.
Pensione Palumbo, Ravello, presso Amalfi, Italy. - Glad to hear Uncle Paul is 'so much better', and that the doctor is happy with his progress; hopes that any further necessary treatment will 'not cause any serious pain' and be 'quite final'. When he and Bessie, they will hope to find him well on the way to 'complete health'. Bessie has been well despite the 'dreadful weather' they have had for almost a month. Very glad he saw the house in the Prinsegracht again [before its sale?] for a few hours last October, when dining with the Grandmonts after visiting Leiden: it is there that he and Bessie began their 'Vondel studies', and that he got to know Uncle Paul and Aunt Maria properly. Is getting on well with German, with some help from Bessie: has read all Goethe's "Tasso" and half his "Iphigenie", though he cannot yet speak the language 'at all'. Bessie is also doing well with her Latin: she 'has not yet mastered all the tenses of "amo"' [I love] but 'makes pretty fair guesses' at their meaning. A 'dreadful bore' has recently arrived at the hotel; he and Bessie take it in turns to sit next to him and 'share the burden equally'; thinks Bessie can 'manage him better'. He is a retired English army officer who served in India: 'like so many Indians' he is 'crammed full of information', which is often interesting but these people 'absolutely never cease pouring it out upon you'; however, he is 'by no means a fool'. Robert and Bessie are getting on well with "Robinson Crusoe"; the end of the last part is 'so exciting' that Robert has been taking 'plenty of time over shaving these last few mornings' while Bessie reads it aloud.
(Probably from an edition of The Christians Defence against the Fears of Death issued in 1720. The True Relation is attributed to Daniel Defoe.)