Item 68 - Letter from George Macaulay Trevelyan to R. C. Trevelyan

Mantua. - Was very pleased by Bob's letter. The printers [of George's book "Garibaldi's Defence of the Roman Republic"] 'seem to have run short of '"f"s, after the final proof stage'; George was particularly annoyed by 'four cannon' being thus rendered 'our cannon' [1st ed, p 273], but now makes up a 'patriotic romance' in which 'young Buonaparte... swears to send the first English cannon which he captures to the Sanmarinesi'. Agrees with Bob about the Introduction, but, given the 'present state of history in England', his book must 'violently proclai[m] that it regards itself also as literature and appeals to the general public' if it is not to be 'treated as an historical monograph and consigned to "historical studies"'. Glad Bob perceives 'a nearer approach to chastity in the style'; thanks him again for his 'kind and painstaking efforts over "[England under] the Stuarts". Having a 'splendid time' in Italy; glad to hear Booa [Mary Prestwich] is better; fears she was very ill. Sends love to Bessie, and to Paul 'in whom, having not seen, I yet believe'.