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30 August 1880 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Monday. 30th August [1880]. It rained & blew all day so that there was no going to bathe– Sat at home & read & worked & spent a long time with the upholsterer settling about making of curtains, covering of chairs &c. In the midst of it Minghetti called to take leave of us saying he was leaving tomorrow the weather being hopeless for bathing. We begged him to return at 7 to dine with us wh he agreed to do. I spent most of the afternoon unpacking & arranging my fans & lace. Minghetti dined with us & was very chatty and pleasant. We talked of politics the East—his own country, Spain, Amadeo &c. He spoke very highly of the Present K & Q of Italy—said the Q. was charming & beloved. He said the King was clever but he was not as convinced of his divine rights as his father had been—he had a very good judgment but was wanting in initiative. He told us abt the death of Victor Emanuel. How a week before he had told him (M) that he was going to Turin to see the Css M. & that she was ill. On Minghetti saying he hoped it was not serious he said he feared it was & he should like to see her once more– The next day H.M. was taken ill himself & died at Rome with all his own family round him wh was just what shd be & it was lucky he had not gone to Turin as he intended. He told us all the story of the King’s confessor getting the Sacraments for H.M. after a council of priests. He talked of the Crown Pss of Germany & said he liked her very much & had been to see her at Pelle last year where the Prince consulted him whether he advised him to visit Rome. Minghetti advised him not to do so as in the present state of affairs between Germany & the Vatican it wd be awkward &c Minghetti left us at 9 & then I read aloud some of Byron’s letters to Henry. | |
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