29 JANUARY 1977, Page 26

£50 p.a.

Sir: Critics cannot be students of the subject matters in books. As fine a review of Miriam

Benkovitz's Frederick Rolfe: Baron Cory° as Paul Fussell did (15 January), he was at fault on one point. 'The uncelebrated hero of Rolfe's Venetian years,' he wrote, 'Is

Edward de Zucatto [sic], His Majesty s Britannic Consul there, who intervened

numerous times on Rolfe's behalf and was always abused for this trouble.' But Rolfe saved de Zuccato from destitution. After almost forty years, in 1913 Edward de Zuccato retired from his unsalaried

position of HBM Vice-Consul, an act vvhich

forced his brother John out of his job as Pro-Consul. The two de Zuccato brothers had no money and now no income. The Foreign Office would grant neither a pension. 'The hopeless condition at present of these poor old gentlemen makes the

blood boil when one remembers their must deserving merit ; and I cannot press you ton

strongly to do them instant justice generous.'

ly,' Rolfe wrote to Sir Edward Grey. This was only one of several letters written bY him about 'this specimen of "Great Eng' land's gratitude" , . . of a most disgusting nature.' His letters were noted: 'The fact however that Mr Rolfe is a crank does not, affect the hardship of the Zuccato case: By the time of his death in October, Rolfe! letters had achieved their purpose. Edvi/ru de Zuccato was granted an annual pensicin of £50.

Donald Weeks 106a Shepherdess Walk, London Ni