Volume 64: Emily Macarthur [Mrs. James Macarthur] correspondence and other papers, 1838-1879: No. 096
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[Page 96] [THIS PAGE SHOULD BE 97]
Hotel - Your Friend Monnet is dead. The Hotel is right by a [Indecipherable] - but we saw young Monnet & his sister who is going to be married to the present resident [Space left here, possibly for a name] at Chatelard. I leave Frances to tell his own story about V[Indecipherable]. We proceeded to Geniva - the weather not being very favourable - & there we devoured your April [Indecipherable] rejoicing greatly to hear of you all - & very much pleased to hear of the birth of little Miss Chisholm - & of the well doing of dear Isabella. I must write to her on this subject. People are vulgarly inquisitive on these occasions - & the only way is to have a general rule - "Not at home" to all such enquiries - After Geniva we went to Chamonix - selecting as we thought bright weather but rain came on as we were entering the valley permitting us however to see the beauty of the Alpine pass, which passages lost nothing from the gloom. At Chamonix we visited the Montavaert - & walked some way up the Brevent catching occasional glimpses of the summit of Mt Blanc & then we went our way with an intelligent guide round the Tête Noire on a most lovely day. What views of the old Mountain we had!! & of all, the beautiful [Indecipherable] & glaciers! Then the torrents & gorges & pine forests & last the Walnuts & Chessnuts in the vale of [Indecipherable] we are such walkers! for we cannot ride down the stoney steep descents & they are so long. Sometimes I think I shall get stiff knees - but I do so enjoy the myself in the mountain air & pine forests. Once more we were [Indecipherable] welcomed to Monnet's Hotel & this time we visited Chatelard & went into the nice large old brewing room & dining room. I believe
[Cross written]
[Indecipherable] you with the [spreading?] my [Indecipherable] scrawl - I will not write in this way when we get back to England but Postage is Expensive here - God bless you dear William our love to you all & [Indecipherable] always your [affecte?] Elle -
we have had [Indecipherable] from Edward here, we presume he is well James has had a slight cold lately but he is very well - & the fresh air & exercise suit him - I think he enjoys himself quite as much as we do. The day we were on the Wengern Alp I am sure he must have walked 15 or 16 miles & not much less on the [Indecipherable]. I ought to have told you that at Lucerne we had a good sight of Victor Emmanuel's two sons - The eldest 16 very like him - always [Indecipherable] & spitting - the youngest 14