1885 AT SAN REMO 407 



and Genoa. At Milan it was so like London on a wet 

 clay, that except for the want of smoke we might have 

 been in our dear native land. At Genoa we arrived late 

 one afternoon and were oif early in the morning but by 

 dint of taking a tram after dinner (not a dram) and going 

 there and back again we are able to say we have seen 

 that city of palaces. The basements we saw through the 

 tram windows by mixed light of gas and moon may in fact 

 all have belonged to palaces. We are not in a position 

 to say they did not 



The quick train from Genoa here is believed to go 

 fully twenty-five miles an hour, but starts at 7 A.M., but 

 the early morning air being bad for the health, we took 

 the slow train at 9.30, and got here some time in the 

 afternoon. But mind you it is a full eighty miles, and 

 when we were at full speed between the stations very 

 few donkeys could have gone faster. But the coast 

 scenery is very pretty, and we didn't mind. 



Here we are very well off and as nearly warm as I 

 expect to be before reaching England. You can sit out in 

 the sun with satisfaction, though there is a little knife- 

 edge of wind just to remind us of Florence. Everybody, 

 however, tells us it is quite an exceptional season, and 

 that it ought to be the most balmy air imaginable. Besides 

 there are no end of date-palms and cactuses and aloes and 

 odorous flowers in the garden and the loveliest purple sea 

 you can imagine. 



Well, we shall stop some days and give San Remo a 

 chance at least a week, unless the weather turns bad. 



As to your postcards which have been sent on from 

 Venice and are really shabby, I am not going to any 

 dinners whatsoever, either Middle Temple or Academy. 

 Just write to both that " Mr. H. regrets he is unable to 

 accept the invitation with which have honoured hint" 1 



1 " It's like putting the shutters up," he said sadly to his wife, 

 when he felt unable to attend the Royal Academy dinner as he had 

 done for many years. 



