Pièce 60 - Letter from R. C. Trevelyan to Caroline Trevelyan

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Pensione Locarini, 5 Via Gregoriana, Roma:- Is settled here for a while with the Frys, ‘expecting to go to Florence in about a fortnight’; it is generally ‘very comfortable and cheap’. The Frys are ‘right up on the Pincian [Hill], not far from the [Hotel] Bristol’. Did not do as much work in the last few days at Ravello, since some friends of theirs were staying and ‘were rather distracting’, but hopes to get some done here; overall, has had a ‘very good month’s work’.

Rome is ‘quite nice’ now, with the weather ‘quite warm after a very cold winter’; it has been a little too dry, but he thinks some rain is now due. Today they are going to the Vatican; yesterday they went to the Medici gardens, which he agrees with her and his father are ‘quite charming’; will visit them again on the afternoons that they are open. Has started reading Zola’s Roma, which ‘adds a great deal to the interest of the place’ and ‘seems a sort of glorified and intelligent guide book’. They went to ‘see Verdi’s Otello the other night, which was not half bad’; there is not much else by way of music at the moment, except the 'band on the Pincian'. Asks her to to say goodbye from him to Charles when he 'goes off'; hopes he has 'prevailed on his companions to go round the world by America, instead of leaving it to the end'.

Is writing in ‘Wilson’s reading rooms, which are a great boon here, and better than Piali’s’. Sends love to his father. Is glad she finds ‘Welcombe so pleasant’; had already heard about the ‘royal visit to Snitterfield’ from an Englishman at Ravello. Called on Mrs Reid before he left [Ravello], and ‘found her quite interesting’.