Letter from Louisa Cecilia Harris, Tours, to Rose Blaze de Bury, 1840 October 7 : autograph manuscript signed.

Stating that she only received her letter 3 days ago, upon returning from England, where they have been staying for the past two months; thanking her for "your good account of my brother" who "has quitted New York, and is now wandering about" and who "is not unmindful of all your kindness to him"; remarking that she had been tempted to take a detour to visit her during her recent travels, but that the route from Tours to Havre is so much shorter via Normandy that they opted to go that way instead; hoping to see her friend next spring, as she wishes to spend six weeks or two months in Paris, "and rub up my singing and ideas"; remarking that she does not believe there will be war, although it would be "the most dreadful calamity" to be forced to leave France, but she thinks that they are safe, "as the general opinion seems to be, that they cannot go to war on this question - but that they are very likely to pick a quarrel, before the Spring."; wishing she would come down to Tours to pay them a visit, "for although we have no great attractions to offer you; yet the contrast would enhance the gaities of Paris upon your return", and offering "the lions of Touraine", the grapes in the vineyards, and swimming in the Loire as pasttimes to be enjoyed, saying "Do be persuaded, - and induce Mrs. Dunbar to come, - and charm our provincial ears with your singing"; writing that her own occupations "are not worthy of much notice. I do not think I have advanced much in my singing. - the high notes are very bad. - the low ones well enough", that she "means to practice [Marco] Bordogni's exercises all this winter", and asking her to send her a "few new Italian songs ... fit for an inflexible contralto voice"; adding that she has been trying to do portraits of her friends ("I get a sort of likeness though not a flattering one"), that she has got a "Beautiful white mare" and two King Charles spaniels, and that "The guitar is much as it was I have not practiced much."; mentioning that she attended a performance by the famous guitar player named (Agustín Trinitario) Huerta and that she did not admire him as much as she expected to, and that there is an Italian guitarist named Crenca[?] "who plays with much moe feeling to my mind"; asking if she is familiar with the English song "Ruth", and remarking that she will never forget hearing her friend sing "The banks of Allan Water."