Letter from General Bruce to Dr. Ernst Becker stating that he has called on Cardinal Antonelli and is hopeful of a positive response to the Prince Consort's wishes [for the photographing of works by Raphael in the Vatican collection], and reporting on the

Colonel Bruce, writing from Rome, reports that Lake Price has been to see him, and has already obtained permission through Mr Freeborn to photograph some of the pictures listed by the Prince Consort which are in private collections. Bruce himself has called on Cardinal Antonelli and explained the Prince's wishes regarding pictures which are public property; Antonelli assured him he would help as much as possible, and has since written to him in the same vein. Bruce is therefore hopeful that all can be satisfactorily arranged, although the Pontifical Government's final decision is not yet available.

Colonel Bruce and his party have been very busy since they arrived in Rome and he hopes the Queen and the Prince Consort will approve of what they have done so far. The authorities have been very attentive towards the Prince of Wales, but Bruce is adhering to his instructions and the Prince's studies are being carried out as unostentatiously and privately as possible. Cardinal Antonelli has been helpful in this respect. The whole party is delighted with Rome.

See VIC/MAIN/Z/444 and other sources listed in General Index for more on the Prince of Wales's visit to Rome.

Related Material: For related material, see VIC/MAIN/Z/444.