Chapter LXXXIII: Letter 353: To Mr. Hoppner

"Ravenna, January 20. 1820.

"I have not decided any thing about remaining at Ravenna. I may
stay a day, a week, a year, all my life; but all this depends upon
what I can neither see nor foresee. I came because I was called,
and will go the moment that I perceive what may render my departure
proper. My attachment has neither the blindness of the beginning,
nor the microscopic accuracy of the close to such liaisons; but
'time and the hour' must decide upon what I do. I can as yet say
nothing, because I hardly know any thing beyond what I have told
you.

"I wrote to you last post for my movables, as there is no getting a
lodging with a chair or table here ready; and as I have already
some things of the sort at Bologna which I had last summer there
for my daughter, I have directed them to be moved; and wish the
like to be done with those of Venice, that I may at least get out
of the 'Albergo Imperiale,' which _is imperial_ in all true sense
of the epithet. Buffini may be paid for his poison. I forgot to
thank you and Mrs. Hoppner for a whole treasure of toys for Allegra
before our departure; it was very kind, and we are very grateful.

"Your account of the weeding of the Governor's party is very
entertaining. If you do not understand the consular exceptions, I
do; and it is right that a man of honour, and a woman of probity,
should find it so, particularly in a place where there are not 'ten
righteous.' As to nobility--in England none are strictly noble but
peers, not even peers' sons, though titled by courtesy; nor knights
of the garter, unless of the peerage, so that Castlereagh himself
would hardly pass through a foreign herald's ordeal till the death
of his father.

"The snow is a foot deep here. There is a theatre, and opera,--the
Barber of Seville. Balls begin on Monday next. Pay the porter for
never looking after the gate, and ship my chattels, and let me
know, or let Castelli let me know, how my law-suits go on--but fee
him only in proportion to his success. Perhaps we may meet in the
spring yet, if you are for England. I see H * * has got into a
scrape, which does not please me; he should not have gone so deep
among those men without calculating the consequences. I used to
think myself the most imprudent of all among my friends and
acquaintances, but almost begin to doubt it.

"Yours," &c.

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