Ffeil 1/52. - Frances Bunsen and Charles Bunsen,

Gives account of walk to Santa Maria Maggiore to see benediction of animals in front of Church of Sant Antonio; refers to Welsh saying 'to be put out of my way' [to be put to some bother]; describes weather - snow and Scirocco; has received Mrs Erskine's card but has not yet seen her; has been reading History of the Council of Trent by Father Paul Sarpi, forbidden by Court of Rome because of its Protestantism; has at last discovered excellent historical works in Italian superior to Hume and Gibbon whom Mr Niebuhr rates higher than historians of France and Germany; praises also Italian translations of Greek and Latin historians and laments ignorance of modern Italians; mentions Mr Niebuhr's intention, had it not been for death of Fontana, of asking Murray of London to publish his new edition of Varchi whom, together with Villani the elder, Mr Niebuhr considers the best Florentine historians; quotes words from Goethe and Novalis for her mother to meditate upon; discusses 'faith' as seen in Patrick's Pilgrim and in works of Law and Mrs H More; of Emily, she writes that death released her from an existence which would have become intolerable; describes progress of children; informs Mrs Waddington of Sardi's marriage; thanks mother for political news. [Charles Bunsen] ridicules the Italians' fear of the small amount of snow which fell for two days; thanks Mrs Waddington for sending copies of speeches, one respecting Mr [Robert] Owen. Damaged.