FLORIAN - The Most Traveled Man on Earth

My dear Papa,
My sisters have told you of the pleasure they had at the balls, my dear Papa, and although
I had a very good time there, I must tell you that Mama was kind
enough to take me to the exhibitions at Somerset House, where
there were many beautiful things to see. I certainly wish I had a
Cicero like you to show me the most interesting things they have
there. 78 I was not able to discover the two scenes from history
and mythology by Miss Jackson. <strong>The</strong>re were two fine pictures
by Wilkie, and another painter whose name I do not know, who
paints in the same genre, and who is also very good. <strong>The</strong>y say
there are much better pictures done in water colors; Mama is
going to take us to see them.
Cicero
Adieu, my dear Papa. Believe forever in my love as your dutiful daughter,
Virginia Florian
[P.S.] Embrace my uncle for me.
[Continuation of the letter, apparently written by Azelie, fourth daughter, now aged 12.]
My dear Papa,
It is fortunate for me that I was the first to choose as the subject for my letter, the pleasure
we had at the Argyle Rooms, because my sisters always tell you everything, and they
never leave me anything to say, and as the littlest I always write last.
<strong>The</strong> Rooms are very beautiful. <strong>The</strong> room where we danced is surrounded by box seats
and has a stage, because amateurs sometimes give plays there. <strong>The</strong>re is also a beautiful
large room where they play cards and chess, and another [room] for refreshments. We all
had a lot of partners, and I assure you that I did not lack for beaux and was not
embarrassed. As there were many émigrés, we danced one or two French quadrilles
during the evening, and at one or two o’clock in the morning we had supper there. [!]
78 This is an interesting comparison. Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) was a Roman statesman,
philosopher, political theorist, humanist, orator, prose stylist and a great writer of letters.
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