L30/14/394/7

From Valenti, Rome to 2nd Baron Grantham, [Madrid]. [Text in French]:

28 Jan 1778

From: 1778 To: 1778

Translation: Although I am sure that you have no need of trouble after enduring the gout and much worry over the illness of your brother, I cannot prevent myself from giving you a little and coming to tell you of the concern I felt over the infirmity of you both and the joy I fell in your recovery. I was the more grieved over the illness of your brother, knowing your tenderness for him I was sure that you would suffer very great distress, but thanks be to God, all is well and you are both perfectly restored, I congratulate you on it and desire with all my heart that the health that you have just recovered will continue unchanged for long years to come. It is your best friend who makes these wishes, they are true and sincere, if you say you know it to be so you will be doing me justice. In the matter of the poplins, upon which I took the liberty of entreating you in April? It is a commission concerning many persons from my country, I would be curious to know whether it might arrive at the time when they wish for it, that is in the Spring, or not. If you have had any notice of it, do me the kindness of telling me and at the same time, give me the account if it has been sent to you. Forgive the trouble I am giving you My Dear Ambassador, I cannot spare you because I have engaged myself to give a reply to those who are eager to have products from your Dear Homeland. I have read the Treaty between Spain and Portugal but it is not possible for a poor priest to judge the greater or lesser advantage that either Power can have; one would have to have the map before ones eyes , to know these countries, their boundaries and to know if, by means of this Treaty, all the subjects of discourse in commerce will be raised, Only you others who deal with these matters everyday are able to see it; also I would willingly yield to your judgement of it. Our Dear Portuguese Ambassador must be filled with joy to have had the honour of signing the Treaty under the eyes of Her Majesty the Queen, whose rare qualities are exalted everywhere, and who surely must have all mercy and a thousand kindnesses for him. It is not surprising after that, that he displayed all his magnificence at Meals, Suppers and Feast Days of all sorts, after the bad and dark days he had spent, he believes it right to recompense himself, the occasion could not be more appropriate. But what do you say of the marriage of our Duc d’Arcos? Would you ever have thought of this union? What you say about the flowers is an enigma for me, that you will place them in the hands in which I would place them myself. Explain it to me, I beg you, because my intention was that they should be received by an English lady, and it seems to me that I perceive that yours was not such. In any case I warn you in advance that the Duc d’Arcos is not the Comte de Treves and perhaps he will not like you to teach the English tongue to Madame his wife, Intelligenta pauca [in Latin in the text] She of little intelligence. You are impatient My Dear Milord to learn how I am finding this new sojourn and if I am as I would wish, and finally how I like [three words illegible] Rome. I enjoy very good health, but I tell you plainly that the multitude of enquiries and visits make my stay heavy and I would further add is this pretension to pomp and great noise of which I am, and will be eternally, the enemy. When I was in my centre Mantua or retired in my little apartment, I saw only those whom I wanted to see and only went out for a little exercise. That is what I called a life of peace, which I have always wanted but which I have not enjoyed for a long time. I must follow another[life]; for how long? I do not know yet. Among the things I wanted to se when I first arrived in Rome were the bowls which you sent to Mons Louis, how beautiful they are, how charming. I guarantee that you will be pleased, because the skilled craftsman has decorated them with the greatest possible delicacy without diminishing the ornamentation they already had. Every time he writes to me, my brother the Commander tells me to present his respects to you and the same to your brother, beg him to accept my own also, with the pleasure I have in knowing him to be recovered. My nephew Guernon sends you his [respects] and does not know how he has deserved the ill wishes you send him. A thousand things to our dear Gazola from me, I never doubted that he was my friend, he gives me proof of it daily. I did not fail to send your letter to his address and up to now I have not received his reply. By the way, have you received another dated from Mantua in which I had put a silver medal? I do not expect thanks , it is a trifle which deserves none , I am only happy to know that you have received it to be quit of the Petergueld on which we were agreed. Be good enough to tell me if it is true that the famous satire with figures, called The Conclave has been printed in England. No mystery My Lord, it is pure curiosity on my part, which will go no further than you and me. We have here Milord Hernes(sic) one of your bishops and brother in law to the famous Madame Kinston. To be frank, I will not conceal from you that to me he looks like a master madman because he speaks at random, and I am sure that if you knew him you would be of my opinion. That is enough My Lord, for a poor convalescent, who has no need to be thus wearied. If I can be of service in any way , command me and do not spare me as it will always be a pleasure to me to convince you of my devotion, with which I will be for my entire life, your very real servant and faithful friend, Le Cardinal Valenti

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Arcos,
Kinston,
Hernes,
Kinston

treaties, Portugal, Spain