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Letter from J.W. Polidori
to his family
My dear Father Mother sisters
Brothers & all generations relations etc.
It is now some time since I wrote my last letter being I think
from Brussels. I am at present fixed probably for 3 or 4 months
on the Genevan Lake in the country house of a descendeant of
Diodati the Italian biblical critic. Since my last I received
fannys. I have cantred over the plain of Waterloo rowed on the
rhine crossed the Jura sailed on the Genevan Lake & trod
upon the ruins of Aventicum. from brussels so that you may trace
me upon the map I went to waterloo & back again to Louvain
St. Trond Liège Aix la Chapelle Juliers met the Rhine
at Cologne, Bonn Collentz, St Goar, Bingen, Mentz, Worms Manheim
Bruchsal Carls Rastadt Bade Fribourg Bale Soleure Berne Morat
Avenches Payerne Mondon Lausanne & le long du lac a Sicheron
hors des portes de Geneve. If you look in the map on the East
side of the lake close to Geneva you will see Cologny we are
near it. our direction is Campagne Diodati près de Geneve.
I have been a little in society here & have seen these Republicans
not very (illegible) ideas arise at the sight of these petty
republicans without strength spirit or a single item of all the
catalogue of republican virtues. As we entered but yesterday
I have a great deal to so that I cannot be very long in my notices.
What are the rows in England London they say had trains of powder
lain to burn if etc etc. let me know something of the truth for
contrary to the usual laws of distance & sight hearsay increases
objects. Got someting for all of the conquered, dress at Waterloo
for myself a cuirass, helm & sabre of the mighty cuirassiers
& some gold & silver lace from my mother & sisters.
Bought a watch for 8 & 20 napoleons of which L.B. present
me 15 for it. Got a gold chain & 2 seals as a fee from an
Englishman here for having his child inoculated & was offered
another of money from another upon my writing a prescription.
Tell fanny that if she can get at my book of medical Mss. which
is brown...(torn)...boarded with a piece of calf at the back
she will find in pencil in the inside of one of the backs a list
of the books there should be in the box. (illegible)
Remembering me to Mr Deagostini & Mr Deachida as well as
Mr & Mrs Ivani
Kindly believe me I am
all of yours affectionate
John Polidori
Charlotte I will write to
Fanny write to me every fortnight for I wish it, but on thinner
paper she can get it at the stationers foreign letter paper closer
writing & wafer instead of seal. What are Bot & Henry
doing and Eliza. Who is Miss (illegible).
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