Monte Carlo, 8 May 1882 
Hotel de Russie 

Dear FRrep, 

2 or 3 weeks before I left Algiers (at the beginning of May),°!° the 
meteorologists had already forecast storms at sea. In fact, during my 
last days in Africa, the sirocco blew itself out and very hot weather set 
in, spoilt, however, by gusts of wind, eddies of dust and unexpected, if 
temporary and often short-lived, drops in temperature. During that 
same time my bronchial catarrh grew worse and has not yet been 
properly subdued. The storm at sea (during the night of 4 to 5 May) 
was such that, even in the cabin, there was an appreciable draught. It 
was pouring when I arrived in Marseilles (on the morning of 5 May), 
and continued to rain all the way to Nice. I even imported one wet day 
(yesterday) into Monte Carlo; glorious weather today. So you see 
how constant J have remained, for until J arrived it hadn’t rained for 
months in Nice or Monte Carlo. But this time it was just badinage, 
not real earnest as in Algiers. 

In Nice, where I spent the 5th and 6th, I soon discovered that the 
wind could be very capricious and that a uniform, even temperature 
was by no means to be expected. Today my brief experience was con- 
firmed by Dr Delachaux, médecin-chirurgien* (lives at Interlaken), who 
is staying at the same hotel here. He has spent his holiday touring 
Nice and its environs, and the most famous places on the Riviera 
* generally, so far with an eye to business as to ascertain which places 
he might best recommend to sufferers of lung diseases, bronchial ca- 
tarrh of a chronic character, etc. He declared decidedly against Nice, 
but preferred Monte Carlo even to Menton.* Dr Delachaux returns 
to his native Switzerland today. 

You will know everything about the charm exerted by the beauties 
of nature here, whether from your own observations,?!? or from 
paintings and printed descriptions. Many of its features vividly recall 
those of Africa. 

* doctor and surgeon 

As regards a ‘warm, dry atmosphere’, it will soon, generally speak- 
ing, be available everywhere. The sun-spots indicate that there will 
be intense activity of the rays, and a drought is feared in France. 

For conscience sake I shall consult Kunemann, a German doctor, 
here tomorrow. I have with me Dr Stephann’s written diagnosis 
(only on looking at his visiting card do I see that Stephann is also Pro- 
Sesseur suppléant a ? Ecole de Médecine* at the faculty of Algiers} which 
will spare me further talkee-talkee—- As soon as Stephann declared 
that I was rid of my pleurisy, I at once began, as prescribed by him 
(Stephann), to embrocate with tincture of iodine all the spots on the 
upper part (left) of my chest and back. Since the time I boarded the 
ship until to-pay I have discontinued these operations which 
would in any case be ‘difficult’ for me to carry out in person on my 
own back, despite Dr Delachaux’s advice that I should attempt it 
with the help ofa mirror. Qui vivra verra. At all events, I shall speak to 
Dr Kunemann first.1 am anxious to get out and about in the open air 
as much as | can. 

Practically all the Parisian and Italian papers and periodicals are 
to be found in the reading room of the Monte Carlo Casino; a fair se- 
lection of German papers, very few English. I read in the Petit Mar- 
seillais of today’s date about ‘lassassinat de lord Cavendish et de 
M. Burke’.2'? The public here, e.g. my table-d’héte companions in 
the Hotel de Russie, is, by contrast, more interested in what goes on 
in the Casino’s salles de jeu (tables de roulette et de trente-et-quarante).* 
I was particularly amused by a son of Albion, sulky, ill-tempered and 
bewildered, anp wuy? Because he had lost a certain number of yellow 
boys, whereas he had been absolutely intent on ‘copping’ the same. 
He couldn’t understand that not even British boorishness is able ‘to 
BULLY’ fortune. 

These lines must be my last since letters from here have first to be 
sent to the post office in Monaco by messenger. 

Kindest regards to all. 

Your 
Moor