Item 136 - Letter from Caroline Trevelyan to Elizabeth Trevelyan

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"In the train". - They have left Rome, and hope to reach Bologna this evening; will remain there until Saturday. Sir George is well, though not completely recovered; he is anxious to get back to work. They have made a number of excursions and got to like the countryside around Rome. [Onorato] Carlandi has done many drawings of the Tiber from source to sea, which they found very interesting. Glad that Robert can work, and that Elizabeth has 'such a pleasant friend'; read a 'pretty story' by Mrs [Lina] Waterfield in the "Westminster [Review]". In Southern Italy 'the people are absolutely Pagan', a curious combination with the 'files of young priests & the infinite number of churches'. Rome is 'becoming much more of a capital', and much cleaner and more prosperous, but Tuscany is still much more civilised outside the cities. Charlie has been very 'good & generous about being left out', and they hope it will only be temporary, but it is still hard; lucky he is so happily married and Mary is so cheerful. They will be taking their new house before long. Dined with the Whites on Christmas day; they are 'the most hospitable of people, & great fun'. The Whites are 'much more amusing' than the British ambassador [Sir Edwin Egerton], who is 'very kind but dull'; his wife [Olga] is Russian, 'pleasant & talkative, but rather hard to understand'.

Continues the letter at Bologna; the weather is wet, but there is much to see; they will stay here tomorrow then travel to Lugano on Saturday; Sir George has ingeniously arranged different stopping points for the return journey. Hopes all is well at the Shiffolds; it must be a comfort to Elizabeth to have Mrs E[nticknap] is there. Expects to find 'election excitement in full swing' when they return. Notes in a postscript that Sir George's uncle William Trevelyan, 'Cousin Willie's' father, has died at the age of 93; he was a 'nice old thing' and married Sir George and Caroline, 'ages ago!'.