Publication InformationTurin, Nov. 6 '64[Portions of the letter placed in brackets were derived from an earlier transcription.]

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Dear Powers

I have yours of the 4', for which I am much obliged to you. We are in no hurry about the bust, especially as we shall pretty certainly leave Turin in the spring, either for Florence or for the U.S. and it would not be worth while to have it sent here for the winter only. We shall be very glad of a few photographs in the meantime, which will be very acceptable to some of our friends. Photographs of Mrs M. from the life have not succeeded. Apropos of photographs, we hear that those you contributed for the Sanitary Fair sold at $2 apiece, & of course realized a very handsome sum.

As for political news, [I have none except such as the papers]

give, for I cannot extract a word from political men in the way of letters. The re-election of Lincoln seems in a high degree probable, yet I think there is serious danger of a pro-slavery revolt in the West. In that case, our condition would be perilous indeed. It has not pleased God thus far to raise us up a in political life, though we are beginning to have generals in the field. Our rulers are blinking principle and running hither and thither after shifting expediences. Even now, I do not know that the administration [means to] make the abolition of slavery an end as well as a of war, though I hope the election once over, a more decided policy will be adopted.

[The new French documents on the late treaty with Italy will embarrass this government and strengthen the op-]

position to the removal to Florence, but French influence will carry the measure through Parliament, though if the truth had been known in the beginning, the question would not have been so easily carried. Even now I doubt whether it would succeed were it not for the municipal envies and jealousies which make every Italian city hated by all the rest. They all join to sacrifice Turin today, and would crush Florence tomorrow with equal satisfaction.

We mean to [...] make a very short visit to Florence in a few weeks or months, and I should be glad to know, as soon as you can conveniently inform me, whether you have reason to believe Mr N. B. Slayton of Florence to be a really safe and skillful dentist of the best class. Mrs Marsh is in urgent need of the services of [such an] artist & the time of our visit [& the length of our stay would] depend much [on your answer to this query.]

We intend to go to the U.S. in April, if Mr L. is re-elected. Whether we shall return to Italy or not will depend partly on him, partly on other circumstances. Considerations of health, as well as other things make a longer residence in Italy very desirable to me, but the question has two sides to it, and I may feel my self obliged to resign, even if the government inclines to have me stay.

I hope your Tuscans will be more merciful landlords than the Piedmontese, who skin all strangers, diplomats especially, with as little compunction as they would dress an eel. The cheapness of life in Florence will soon be gone forever. Houseowners, innkeepers and tradesmen will thrive by the change, but the rest of the people will lose more than they will gain by the transfer of the seat of government. Mrs M joins me in affectionate regards to you all. By they way, did your sons [go to the U.S.?] I have never heard.

[Yours truly][Geo. P. Marsh]

[H. Powers, Esq.]

References in this letter:

Powers, as a gesture of friendship to Caroline Crane Marsh (1816-1901) and her husband, George Perkins Marsh, American ambassador to Italy, had her sit for a bust in June 1862. The marble replica made from the plaster cast, presented to the Marshes in late 1864 or early 1865, is now in the Fleming Museum of the University of Vermont.

(Nicholas) Longworth Powers, Hiram and Elizabeth Powers' second child, was born in Cincinnati in 1835 and died in 1924 in Florence after a long career there as a photographer. Their fifth child,(William) Preston Powers, was born in Florence in 1843. He served as his father's personal secretary for a number of years and after Powers' death operated his own studio. He died in Florence in 1931.