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Frank Leward: Memorials

Bampton to Mr. Saunders

Bampton to Mr. Saunders.

Adelphi Terrace, London, Nov. 2, 1860.

Dear Mr. Saunders.—I am writing this from Frank's rooms. Come as soon as you can. We managed the journey very fairly well. Frank's wonderful constitution pulled him through more quickly than the doctors thought possible. A few days after he was up he began to get strength again, and we left on the 21st. A large number of his old comrades, many of whom had been wounded too, came to see him off. Even the General at the last moment came rushing down stick in hand and cigarette in mouth to say adieu and Frank made him promise to come and see him in England. So we got off amidst the cheers of the Garibaldians. Frank was on a long deck chair and looked happy and pleased as we left the beautiful bay with its blue sky and blue water and green hills, and Vesuvius smoking away as ever, and page 339ragged Neapolitan boys looking lazily on as we steamed away.

Frank wouldn't keep below on the voyage. He said he couldn't stand the cabins, and even at night would stay up lying on deck and keeping me looking after his wraps and things. He has got quite the air of a pampered invalid, and he used to laugh at my exertions in looking after him. We had one or two very jolly evenings though when the water was smooth and the air warm and I was not sea sick.

We got up to Paris in a comfortable coupé and so to Calais and then on here. I had written to my clerk to get rooms in the Adelphi and everything in that Frank could want, and here he is installed for the present. It is a convenient part because it's on my way back from Westminster and I shall be able to look in every afternoon for a few minutes and I can spend most of the evening here.

I am very busy so come if you possibly can, you can come with him for a walk in the Temple Gardens when it's fine, when it isn't you will be very comfortable with him in his spacious lodgings and we can have long talks, I have plenty to tell you.

It is the first day of term and there wasn't much doing in court to-day so I have had nearly an hour here this afternoon. He says you must come. Yours very affectionately,

C. A. Bampton.