ADELAIDE CAPECE MINUTOLO.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:1
STE, —I cannot express my surprise at reading a notice in the Spectator of September 5th, upon Mrs. Augustus Craven's "Adelaide Capece Minutolo," "translated by M. S. Watson (G. Herbert, Dublin, 1890)." The notice says, "We welcome this translation,"—as if the little book were unknown. At Mrs. Augustus Craven's special request, I translated her Life of Adelaide Minutolo in 1869, and it was published under the title of "A Noble Lady (Adelaide Capece Minutolo)," by Burns and Oates, who have the copyright. It was much approved by Mrs. Craven, and special commendation was given by several critics to the translation prefixed of a sonnet of Vittoria Colonna. I translated for Mrs. Craven her " Fleurange," "Le Mot de l'Enigme" (" The Story of a Soul"), and " Recit d'une Steur,"—a very difficult undertaking, but of which Comte de Montalembert said it was the best translation he had ever seen. In fact, when introducing her husband, Mrs. Craven said : "Voile, ma Traductrice !" The office playfully alluded to with her own special charm, led to many hours of an intercourse which I value as one of the chief pleasures and privileges of my life, and I cannot permit the robbery of even the least of my treasures to pass without protest. I have been travelling about, and the Spectator, my companion for many years, was delayed.—I am, Sir, &c., Harrow, September 14th. EMILY BOWLES.
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