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18 November 1899 — Trent | |
Saturday. 18th [November 1899]. Breakfasted with H.M. & afterwards she took me to her bedroom & showed me the portrait of her grandchildren & then told me she meant to make the English at Venice a present of the old bell. H.M. says I am to have the inscription engraved on it “This Bell was given to the Church of St George of Venice in memory of the Officers & men of the British Army & Navy who fell in the Transvaal 1899. Victoria Dowager Empress Frederick of Germany & Queen of Prussia (Princess Royal of Great Britain & Ireland).” She wrote it herself on the paper I here insert– I am delighted & thanked her heartily & told her I am sure all the English at Venice will be delighted. She at once made a little sketch of the kind of belfrey she recommended us to erect for it. I then left her & went to my room to dress for our walk on wh we started about 11. We went along the Adige on the grass. It was a lovely day—had been cold but the sun was hot & warmed up the air as we went along. We came back to the hotel just about lunch & had to hasten to dress & come down to it. At 2.30 we went for a drive H.M. & I in the open Victoria, Herr von Wedell & Dr Spielhagen following in the landau. We went up hill to the village of Povo & there got out & walked into a garden up a winding path which lead to a summer house & from whence there is a splendid view all over the valley. Then we returned to the village church where H.M. pointed out to me a kind or porch & also an altar back which she thought would suit our church at Venice & then we got into the carriage & returned to Trent discussing the Church as we went and Her M. said “I am getting quite excited over the Venice Church it interests me so”– I answered that I had always hoped she would take an interest in it since she had once told me she would do so when she had finished looking after the Church at Venice which was now completed. We reached the hotel at 4.30 & went down to tea at 5. Count Seckendorff came in bringing a beautiful water colour drawing he has just finished of the fine fountain in the Piazza here. He is an excellent artist. Baroness Verschür came up to my room & sat with me talking for a time– I had a visit also from Baron Salvadori who came to see if I was going to Margone tomorrow to see them & I told him I cannot as I must return to Venice tomorrow. | |
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