Hubert LYAUTEY (1854-1934) marshal. 5 L.A.S. "Hubert", Rome March-April 1883, to his parents; 46pages in-8 (in autograph folder: "Lettres de Rome à mes parents"). Beautiful, long letters from the young cavalry captain on a study trip to Italy. Holy Thursday, March 22. After a stopover in Genoa he went to Göritz, where he immediately announced his arrival to La Bouillerie; they went to the Villa Böckmann "where the King lives" [Count de Chambord], and he was introduced to M. de Foresta [his gentleman of service]. He went to the audience in full regalia: "I was at last introduced to the King. Words could not convey what I experienced, nor what he is like. I was absolutely squeezed by the throat, although he made me as comfortable as possible, I stayed ¾ of an hour alone with him, and I can only say that I have never met a more intelligent man, broader of ideas, more on the move, understanding things better. He made me sit down immediately; told me a lot about the army, my friends Antonin, Keller, La Bouillerie, Albert de Mun, the circles of Africa [...] laughing a lot at the thought that it was from an official leave that I was detaching myself to go and see him"... Then he spoke with the Marquis de Foresta and his wife, "a true resurrection of the Restoration", and with members of the royalist committee of the Nièvre, etc. He describes the somewhat sad appearance of the meeting. He describes the somewhat sad appearance of the villa, and sketches the arrangement of the guests around the dinner table: Lyautey was placed almost facing the King: "General conversation, but not high, and the King always giving the 1st word to lead the conversation: of extraordinary cheerfulness and liveliness, nothing serious or stiff"... Then he summarizes the stages of his trip to Rome, and talks at length about his acquaintances, thanks to the recommendations of the Princess of Podenas: Princess Massimo and the Duchess della Grazia, sisters of the Count of Chambord, the Altieri family "of the highest house in Rome", Cardinal Chigi, etc. He is invited to the Easter mass at the Sistine: "only 200 people attend, and they take communion from the hand of the Holy Father"... He gives his impressions as a tourist and details of his worldly activities... Easter [March 25]. He speaks with admiration of Pope Leo XIII, who has the air of a saint, and of his evening at the home of Princess Altieri, sketching the arrangement of the guests at table. Afterwards, a grand reception attended by all of "Black Rome". He "stunned" the Comte de Béhaine, French ambassador to Rome, with the news that he had dined in this house... He was invited to the sister of the Duke of Fitz-James, to the Princess Bandini's, and met Count Lucchesi-Palli, grandson of the Duchesse de Berry and nephew of the King. "I was again introduced to the 2 Counts Macchi, to Mgr Marini, a participant in the pontifical throne, to the Borghese Duke of Bomarzo, to Prince Rospigliosi - well, I'm not there anymore, and I get confused, but I'm rudely wowed"... March 28. He reviews his activities during Holy Week, giving new details of the dinner at Princess Altieri's house. He mentions a few visits to people and art galleries, then names all those who have left their visiting cards with him, and sometimes invitations... Wednesday 11th [April]. He visited the non-public parts of the Vatican, went to a ball at the home of some Americans, visited the Marquis de Reverseaux and strolled around the Capitol, the Doria Gallery, the Appian Way, etc. He attended a very glittering reception at the Vatican. He attended a very brilliant reception in the Farnese salon, and paid a visit to the commanding general in Rome, Count Maraldi... He briefly mentions his audience with the Holy Father... April 14-17. He talks about his visit to the Borgia apartments in the Vatican, and indulges in some reflections on the art of the primitives and the art of the moderns, rejoicing in Raphael... He is under the spell of Rome: "there is no banality in it, all the men I see are interesting in some way, their spirit, their situation, the positions they have occupied or the brilliance of their birth. So I tremble at the thought that this life will come to an end so soon, and that we'll have to fall back into boarding school life at Bruyères, among comrades without an idea, occupations without an interest"... He complains bitterly of "this torment of exile", where in the absence of ideas and the arts we withdraw into ourselves: "I wonder how I'm going to resign myself to this life of hardship, and whether it's not going to be the end of a career I like the general idea of, but which has really condemned me to perpetual exile"... He recounts at length his frequentation of Roman galleries...