Letter from Mrs. Bowyer-Smijth, Florence, to Baroness Marie Blaze de Bury, 1859? : autograph manuscript fragment signed.

Informing her that she has just received her letter of January 4 enclosed in a letter from Mr. Pierce Gros(?) which states that he was obliged to return home on account of illness rather than come to Florence and that he has sent "the Bondeaux", although she has not received them yet; expressing her wish that Madame Blaze de Bury would come to visit her, as "Sir William (Bowyer-Smijth) living in England gives me such lots of room", while admitting that "with regards to society you would have found it stupid enough this winter"; commenting that she would like to take an apartment in Paris, but that rates in Paris are too expensive; announcing that her son has passed his exams "& is now installed in the Foreign Office" although "where they will eventually send him I know not yet"; asking her what her plans are for the summer and stating that she is waiting for Sir William to return before making plans and that she would like to go to Venice; informing her that "people here don't now think there will be war", and that she has just heard of the defeat of the Reform Bill in England, and commenting "I think it serves them right".