1885 LETTERS FROM FLORENCE 405 



papers. The only good thing that has met my eye lately 

 is a proposal to raise a memorial to Gordon. I want to 

 join in whatever is done, and unless it will be time 

 enough when I return, I shall be glad if you will put 

 me down for 5 to whatever is the right scheme. 



The following to his daughter, Mrs. Roller, de- 

 scribes the stay in Florence. 



HOTEL DE MILANO, FLORENCE, 

 March 7, 1885. 



We have been here more than a week and have 

 discovered two things, first that the wonderful "art 

 treasures," of which all the world has heard, are a sore 

 burden to the conscience if you don't go to see them, and 

 an awful trial to the back and legs if you do ; and thirdly, 

 that the climate is productive of a peculiar kind of relaxed 

 throat. M.'s throat discovered it, but on inquiry, it 

 proved to be a law of nature, at least, so the oldest in- 

 habitants say. We called on them to-day. 



But it is a lovely place for all that, far better than 

 Rome as a place to live in, and full of interesting things. 

 We had a morning at the Uffizii the other day, and 

 came back with minds enlarged and backs broken. To- 

 morrow we contemplate attacking the Pitti, and doubt 

 not the result will be similar. By the end of the week 

 our minds will probably [be] so large, and the small of 

 the back so small that we should probably break if we 

 stayed any longer, so think it prudent to be off to Venice. 

 Which Friday is the day we go, reaching Venice Saturday 

 or Sunday. Pension Suisse, Canal Grande, as before. 

 And mind we have letters waiting for us there, or your 

 affectionate Pater will emulate the historical " cocky." 



I got much better at Siena, probably the result of the 

 medicinal nature of the city, the name of which, as a 

 well-instructed girl like you knows, is derived from the 



