Letter from George FitzClarence, Rome, to Mary Georgiana Dawson-Damer, 1830 February 12 : autograph manuscript signed.

Relating news from Rome; saying he has been "constantly ill & the climate has affected me so that I have 'held my Peace' which you will say is not usual with me...As a Dernier resort Lady Shrewsbury forced me to see a German Doctor who performs the most wonderful cures, principally by making his patients smell from little bottles, not larger than a Thimble. Bye the Bye, I have not recommended him to any one as he asks the most ill judged Questions possible - after looking at me very gravely for some time He asked me if I had aught upon my Mind (I thought I had a Father Confessor rather than a disciple of Esculapius) & on my negating his proposition He returned to the charge & taxed me with being in Love! - To be sure I looked like a Batchelor, breakfasting in solitude at a little Teaboard, but all my vociferations did not satisfy him & I have no doubt he gave me the reverse of what Shakespear calls "Love Philtres", but as you may well suppose, without my deriving benefit from his assistance...Thank God our Time abroad is fast drawing to a conclusion and malgre all the misfortunes, Dawson thinks it is threatened with, I shall I trust never again leave Old England;" saying he is sending back four "chapelets" [rosaries] which were "...at my request blessed by the Pope, but from having become since, doubly interesting from the circumstance of D. Weld [Thomas Weld] having carried them himself to reserve it - thus, they were held for the purpose by the first English Cardinal we have had for 160 years since Cardinal Howard in James the second's Time - I dare say Mrs. FitzHerbert never thought of being related to a Cardinal but so is the case as you will, before this, have heard - I have become acquainted with His Eminence and think him a gentleman well suited for the Position, which is not without difficulty at the moment - He is bound, for the present, not to go to England until it is seen how our Government received his appointment;" relating the preparations Weld is making, saying the official ceremony will be early in March and Lord Shrewsbury is loaning him the Colonna Palace for his receptions which last three nights; relating a dispute between one of his servants and his Coachman which resulted in serious injury to his servant and the efforts he went to, in vain, to get the help of the local police; discussing social news of friends and commenting on his sister Amelia saying "I am still in the dark with respect to what has happened concerning Horace though by the various accounts I receive I consider it is at an end - which wear the willow with the greatest firmness? I think Horace will be uncomfortable at Hampton Court with the likelyhood of meeting my Family constantly including Amelia and that it will be best for him to send the Boys to Eton & come abroad for change of Scene;" relating his travel plans for his return to England.