| Description | Letter from Amelia Nyasa Laws, Rome, to her relatives, explaining that she will now write general letters again and post two copies separately to her parents and to Aunt Amy, Aunt is exhausted but it is a good thing, the proper reaction, and she is resting, she is now sleeping well again, the last two church services have been a let-down after Uncle, 'Mr. Rankin's intonation is that of a business American discussing questions with God', though she likes Mr. Rankin privately, the Y.M.C.A. has ordered him to Constantinople so Mr. Smith will probably replace him, they are to be paid as regular supply until the end of May, Aunt and Amelia have been checking the church account books and found that Uncle has not filled them in for two years, though Amelia drew up the columns for him in 1918, Amelia will bring it up to date for Mr. Webster who returns from Malta next week, Hale will probably be appointed administrator, Cordano has been helping them with the Bible Society correspondence, they have filled a sack and a half with correspondence which is of no use, but will be sold as scrap paper and the proceeds divided amongst the servants, Mr. Gibson will take over the Bible Society work until a replacement is appointed, Mr. Benton has been helping sort out church administration and a good deal has been destroyed, Aunt has destroyed a good deal of private correspondence 'of no value whatever', Amelia is sorting out committee correspondence, the presbytery papers will go to Mr. Irving when he passes through Rome in May, and Mr. Cowan of Genoa will probably be appointed Presbytery clerk, Dr. Miller will be consulted about the Leghorn litigation papers, and Filippini about the Sunday School, Landels about Christian Endeavour, Miss Morgan about the Y.M.C.A. and Paul Rossi about Mme. Poitet's affairs, it is good they can keep all this amongst themselves and confidential, Uncle's will has been sent to Mr. R.C. Gray who will act as solicitor, there is money for Uncle Alec's maintenance and the rest is divided in liferent between Aunt Amy, Aunt and Amelia, but they will have to pay for Uncle Alec for some time as recently the interest has not covered his clothing requirements, after their liferent the money reverts to the Continental Committee to go to the endowment fund of the Roman station, cashflow is a problem, but they are all right, nursing and medical expenses enumerated, no rush to vacate the house as it is the end of the season, they will offer the furniture to the church to buy for the manse, at present furniture is rare and expensive in Rome and nothing can be brought out from England, but much will have to be given away as it is old and worn, Mr. Street can take some of the books, some will be sold as scrap and some left for the church, some to the Archaeological Society's library, Aunt has kept their personal possessions to a minimum but they will have to be reduced still further, arrangements for mourning clothes, the doctors at Metz are anxious for her to return, and will make it as easy for her as possible, but she has promised nothing, a salary would have to be arranged but Aunt is willing to move to Metz and keen for Amelia to continue where she is. |