Pièce 34 - Letter from R. C. Trevelyan to Caroline Trevelyan

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Hotel Scapolatielli, Corpo di Cava, Italia [on headed notepaper for the Hôtel de Londres, Gênes, crossed through]: - Was glad to get her letter addressed here, as he has not yet received her first from Naples. Is still quite 'contented and prosperous', though the weather has not been 'all it should be' recently. Very pleased to hear that George has 'got his scholarship, the first in the family since 1858 or thereabouts [their father's]'. Expected it, but it is 'none the less splendid for all that'; will write to George at Seatoller to congratulate him. Supposes he is staying there for about three weeks, and expects he and his friends will be cold and frequently rained on, but 'undergraduates can extract pleasure from the most depressing circumstances'.

Is writing this on his balcony, 'in the intervals' of his supper: a risotto 'of great size, and far better than they make them in England', two poached eggs, cheese, and fruit. A pig in the yard of a nearby house 'always sets up a terrible squealing for his supper just about now': he and the donkeys are 'almost the only drawbacks to an otherwise perfect place', though 'everything in the pension' is currently being repainted ready for the season, which is 'a great nuisance' and all his coat-sleeves are now a dark red 'through repeated passings through freshly painted doorways'. Has not been much to the Monastery lately, as he prefers to work where he is 'free from the civilities of the Professors'. Their idea of civility is 'to give you as much of their company as possible', though they are 'very well intentioned and agreeable in their place'. His work is 'going on well', and he is 'on the whole satisfied with it'; is getting on faster than at first.

The flowers are very pleasant, but the trees 'very slow in coming out'; expects this rain will help. Acquired plenty of Pall Mall [Gazette]s from some English people at Cava the other day, so has caught up on news. Always talks to any English speaking visitors to the Monastery he meets, to 'have the pleasure of speaking [his] native language and hearing it', though the 'Pall Mall ladies' have been his 'only discoveries... of any interest'; they are fortunately staying at Cava until Monday. Hopes she and his parents are well. Will write to Charlie tomorrow if he has 'the energy'.

Adds a postscript saying that if firearms were not 'forbidden by special law and order legislation', he would buy a revolver and 'shoot at that pig until [he] put an end to his infernal squalling'.