The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II
My dear Tom,—I got the papers all safe. I am sure the account is perfectly correct. I only wish the balance was bigger. I waited here to receive these things, and now I discover that I can't sign the warrant of attorney except before a consul, and there is none in this place, so that I must keep it over till I can find one of those pleasant functionaries,—a class that between ourselves I detest heartily. They are a presumptuous, under-bred, consequential race,—a cross between a small skipper and smaller Secretary of Legation, with a mixture of official pedantry and maritime off-handedness that is perfectly disgusting. Why our reforming economists don't root them all out I cannot conceive. Nobody wants, nobody benefits by them; and save that you are now and then called on for a consular fee, you might never hear of their existence.
I don't rightly understand what you say about the loan from that Land Improvement Society. Do you mean that the money lent must be laid out on the land as a necessary condition? Is it possible that this is what I am to infer? If so, I never heard anything half so preposterous! Sure, if I raise five hundred pounds from a Jew, he has no right to stipulate that I must spend the cash on copper coal-scuttles or potted meats! I want it for my own convenience; enough for him that I comply with his demands for interest and repayment. Anything else would be downright tyranny and oppression, Tom,—as a mere momentary consideration of the matter will show you. At all events, let us get the money, for I 'd like to contest the point with these fellows; and if ever there was a man heart and soul determined to break down any antiquated barrier of cruelty or domination, it is your friend Kenny Dodd! As to that printed paper, with its twenty-seven queries, it is positive balderdash from beginning to end. What right have they to conclude that I approve of subsoil draining? When did I tell them that I believed in Smith of Deanstown? Where is it on record that I gave in my adhesion to model cottages, Berkshire pigs, green crops, and guano manure? In what document do these appear? Maybe I have my own notions on these matters,—maybe I keep them for my own guidance too!
Charles James Lever
THE DODD FAMILY ABROAD
With Illustrations By Phiz And W. Cubitt Cooke.
In Two Volumes: Vol. II.
Contents
LETTER I. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF
Constance.
LETTER II. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ., TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN.
Bregenz.
LETTER III. CAROLINE DODD TO MISS COX AT MISS MINCING'S ACADEMY, BLACK ROCK, IRELAND.
LETTER IV. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH
Bregenz.
LETTER V. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF
Bregenz.
LETTER VI. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN.
On the Splügen Alps.
LETTER VII. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, PRIEST'S HOUSE, BRUFF.
Colico, Italy.
LETTER VIII. JAMES DODD TO LORD GEORGE TIVERTON, M. P., POSTE RESTANTE, BREGENZ.
Hotel of All Nations, Baths of Homburg.
LETTER IX. MISS MARY ANNE DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF
Villa della Fontana, Lake of Como
LETTER X. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH
LETTER XI. MISS MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN
Villa della Fontana, Como.
LETTER XII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF
Lake of Como.
LETTER XIII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF
Como
LETTER XIV. JAMES DODD TO LORD GEORGE TIVERTON, M.P.
Cour de Vienne, Mantua.
LETTER XV. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH
Parma, the "Cour de Parme."
LETTER XVI. MISS MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN
Parma.
LETTER XVII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE BRUFF
Parma.
LETTER XVIII. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OP BALLYDOOLAN
"Cour de Parme," Parma.
LETTER XIX. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH
Orsaro, Feast of Saint Gingo.
LETTER XX. BETTY COBB TO MISTRESS SHUSAN O'SHEA.
Mount Orsaro.
LETTER XXI. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ. TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN.
The Inn, Orsaro.
LETTER XXII. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER
Hôtel Feder, Genoa.
LETTER XXIII. MISS CAROLINE DODD TO MISS COX, AT MISS MINCING'S ACADEMY, BLACK ROCK, IRELAND
Sestri, Gulf of Genoa.
LETTER XXIV. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN.
Lucca, Pagnini's Hotel.
LETTER XXV. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ., TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN.
Hôtel d'Italie, Florence, Wednesday.
LETTER XXVI. KENNY DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., ORANGE, BRUFF.
Florence, Lungo l'Arno.
LETTER XXVII. MRS. DODD TO MRS. GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH
Casa Dodd, Florence.
LETTER XXVIII. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ., TRINITY COLLEGE,
LETTER XXIX. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN
Casa Dodd, Florence.
LETTER XXX. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF
Florence.
LETTER XXXI. MISS CAROLINE DODD TO MISS COX, AT MISS MINCINGS ACADEMY,
LETTER XXXII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE,